Mikel Arteta has issued a formal apology to Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior following an incident during the warm-up for the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. The Arsenal manager expressed regret after his players were accused of encroaching into Chelsea's half before the crucial match at Stamford Bridge.
Confrontation on the Pitch
Liam Rosenior confronted the Arsenal team directly on the pitch just prior to kick-off, stating that he felt a significant lack of respect had been shown to his Chelsea side. The confrontation highlighted tensions between the two clubs as they battled for a place in the Carabao Cup final.
Arteta's Explanation and Apology
While offering his sincere apologies for any offence caused, Mikel Arteta provided context for the situation. He suggested that players, particularly goalkeepers, often cross the halfway line during warm-up routines when practising long kicks. However, he acknowledged Rosenior's concerns and emphasised the importance of mutual respect between teams.
Match Outcome and Injury Updates
Despite the pre-match controversy, Arsenal secured a dramatic 1-0 victory thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Kai Havertz. This result gave them a 4-2 aggregate win and booked their place in the Carabao Cup final. In other news, ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture against Sunderland, Arteta provided positive injury updates for key players Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. He confirmed that Jurrien Timber is available for selection, but noted that Max Dowman remains several weeks away from returning to full fitness.
