Arteta Offers Apology to Chelsea's Rosenior Following Warm-Up Controversy
Mikel Arteta has formally apologised to Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior after Arsenal players were accused of displaying a lack of respect during the warm-up ahead of Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. The incident occurred at Emirates Stadium, where Sky Sports cameras captured Rosenior in an angry exchange with Arsenal personnel on the pitch before kick-off.
Rosenior's Complaint About Football Etiquette
Rosenior expressed his displeasure after the match, stating: "There's certain etiquette in football. I don't have an issue with anyone at Arsenal. It was just in that moment I didn't think that respect was shown to my team." The Chelsea boss specifically objected to Arsenal players encroaching into Chelsea's half during their pre-match preparations.
Despite the controversy, Arsenal proceeded to win the contest 1-0 thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Kai Havertz. This victory gave the Gunners a 4-2 aggregate advantage and secured their place in the Carabao Cup final against upcoming opponents.
Arteta's Response and Justification
In his preview press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Sunderland, Arteta addressed Rosenior's comments directly. "I don't know, it's his opinion and we respect everybody," the Arsenal manager stated. "At any point, if one of the staff members did that, we apologise."
Arteta then attempted to explain why his players might have crossed the halfway line during warm-up, adding: "It's very common in football. With the keepers they need to kick long balls." This justification suggests the encroachment may have been unintentional rather than a deliberate act of disrespect toward their London rivals.
Injury Updates Ahead of Weekend Fixture
During the same press conference, Arteta provided positive updates on several key players ahead of Arsenal's upcoming match against Sunderland:
- Bukayo Saka: Hip injury improving significantly with return expected soon
- Martin Odegaard: Recovery progressing with return anticipated within days
- Jurrien Timber: Confirmed available for selection this weekend
- Max Dowman: Teenage sensation still nursing ankle problem and several weeks from return
The warm-up incident has added another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between Arsenal and Chelsea, though Arteta's apology appears to have diffused tensions between the two managers ahead of their next potential meeting.
