FIVE Problems Arsenal Exposed in Chelsea’s Squad after 1-0 defeat.

 Chelsea are OUT of the Carabao Cup following their recent defeat (aggr. 4—2) to Arsenal in the EFL Cup. 

The first leg of the tie saw Chelsea succumb to a 3—2 defeat and many fans looked at the second leg with hope that the Blues would turn things around following their recent performances and comeback against the Hammers.  

However, a sloppy performance from the Blues especially in the first half and a late goal from Kai Havertz saw the Blues lose to The Gunners. 

Many fans have blamed Liam Rosenior's approach to the game as primary reason for the Blues' loss to Arsenal. 

Pundit Paul Merson is also of the same opinion.  

Liam Rosenior's side took a conservative approach despite needing a goal to send the tie to extra-time following their first-leg defeat and were unable to create clear chances. 

Chelsea had 14 shots but only two of them were on target. In total they only generated 0.68 expected goals.

Paul Merson said on Sky Sports: "I'm flabbergasted. I can't believe what I've just watched. Chelsea aren't a bottom-five team. They have World Cup winners.

"[Wesley] Fofana is crying. He should be crying because they never had a go. They've gone out with a whimper in a semi-final. It hasn't worked. Go out in a blaze of glory, don't go out like that.

"Chelsea have got the players to mix it with Arsenal. And they didn't have a go.

"If they'd have lost the game 3-0 but had shot after shot and Kepa [Arrizabalaga] was brilliant and they got broken on three times, that's the way it is.

"I've played in games like that where you come off and you think we just got beat and didn't really have a go."

Another Pundit Jamie Redknapp is also of the opinion that Liam Rosenior's approach to the game was not one that was enough to fetch a win:

Jamie Redknapp added: "If you'd have turned up today and not known the score you'd have thought that Chelsea were winning, the way they were playing the game with six at the back, playing cagey and trying to hit on the counter-attack if possible.

"I totally get what his plan was but there comes a point where you have to take emotion into a game. It's a semi-final, you've got to throw punches.

"Having two shots on target in a semi-final isn't good enough. It's overthinking tactics, you've got to have a go.

"The last two or three minutes of that game were a good example of how Chelsea had no idea.

"[Alejandro] Garnacho came on for 15 or 20 minutes. He passed the ball backwards and sideways every time he got it."

Chelsea boss Rosenior has however hit back at criticism of his approach.

He said: "I've been a pundit, it's easy in hindsight. If I go and attack the game and press really high, people will ask what I am doing.

"You can come away from home, press all over the pitch, go man to man and you could go 2-0 up or you could go 2-0 down.

"I felt that the psychological aspect of the tie was very important as well. Sixty minutes, I bring on Cole [Palmer] and Estevao and the game opens up and we have moments in and around the box.

"I think there was a feeling in the stadium that this tie could turn. We didn't achieve what we wanted to, but it's not about game plans, it's about results.

"I have to give our players so much credit for what they put into the game and ultimately their goal comes when we're just throwing the kitchen sink at the game. That's going to happen, but we have to make sure that we take the positives from that, but we're here to get results.

"The reality of my job is if you lose games, you'll be criticised. If you win, you're a genius. It's normally somewhere in between, I think."

CHELSEA'S MISTAKES:

Chelsea set out in a back-five, with the wingbacks pushing forward in possession, but the focus was mainly on restricting Arsenal’s chances (and dealing with any Arsenal set pieces).And that plan worked well enough for the first hour or so, at which point Liam Rosenior switched it up and signaled his intention to go for it by putting on Cole Palmer and Estevao, and reshaping the team into our more customary 4-2-3-1 look. We needed just the one goal to get things to extra-time and possibly penalties.

Arsenal responded by making a few changes of their own, and also making the game a bit more chippy than before.

Alas, Chelsea were not quite able to generate enough chances to break through. Arsenal scored with the final touch of the game after we had thrown everyone forward. They advance to the final; we go home.

Chelsea still have three competitions to look forward to: Securing top four in the Premier League, the FA Cup and Champions League. 

 If the Blues want to make the most out of their situation, Liam Rosenior will have to adjust his game plans to suit the occasion going forward.