Chelsea’s newly appointed manager, Liam Rozanier, endured a disappointing start at Stamford Bridge, as his side fell 3-2 to Arsenal in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final. The defeat now places Chelsea under significant pressure, as they must secure victory at the Emirates Stadium to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.
Rozanier, the seventh consecutive manager to take the reins at Chelsea in recent years, has yet to taste victory on home soil. Among his predecessors, five began with draws and two with defeats, with Maurizio Sarri in August 2018 being the last Chelsea manager to win his opening home match. The statistics underline the historic challenge Rozanier faces in his maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge.
In contrast, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reached a remarkable milestone. He remains unbeaten at Stamford Bridge across eight consecutive encounters, recording four wins and four draws in all competitions. Arteta is only the second Arsenal manager to achieve such a record at this venue since Arsène Wenger, who went nine matches unbeaten from September 1998 to April 2005.
Key Match Events
| Minute | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ben White opens the scoring for Arsenal | Chelsea 0–1 Arsenal |
| 49 | Victor Yokeres doubles Arsenal’s lead | Chelsea 0–2 Arsenal |
| 57 | Alejandro Garnacho pulls one back for Chelsea | Chelsea 1–2 Arsenal |
| 71 | Martin Zubimendi restores Arsenal’s two-goal cushion | Chelsea 1–3 Arsenal |
| 83 | Garnacho scores his second, narrowing the deficit | Chelsea 2–3 Arsenal |
Alejandro Garnacho made history in the League Cup by scoring in both the quarter-final and semi-final of the same season, becoming the first Premier League player to achieve this feat since Edin Džeko of Manchester City in 2013–14.
Reflecting on the match, Rozanier said,
“Conceding the first goal was disappointing. It was a matter of team coordination rather than the fault of any individual, including Rob (Sanchez). I asked him to attempt something he had not done before. If mistakes are made, the responsibility is mine.”
Arteta, meanwhile, praised his players:
“Firstly, I must commend the team. We faced a formidable opponent, and the players performed exceptionally well.”
Chelsea now face a daunting challenge in the second leg, needing a dramatic turnaround to keep their final aspirations alive. Rozanier’s pursuit of his first home victory as Chelsea manager has never been more urgent, and Stamford Bridge awaits a crucial test of his tactical acumen and leadership under pressure.