Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued an apology to Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior following complaints that Arsenal staff showed a lack of respect before their League Cup semi-final meeting at the Emirates Stadium.
Rosenior had expressed his frustration after Arsenal personnel were seen occupying part of Chelsea’s half during the pre-match warm-up on Tuesday.
The Chelsea boss was visibly upset on the touchline, urging them to remain in their own area, and later voiced his displeasure.
“I’ve never asked my team or coaches to encroach on the opposition’s territory. In that moment, I didn’t think it was right where they were operating; they were affecting our warm-up,” Rosenior said.
“I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stay in their half. Mikel is someone I’ve got so much respect for. It was just in that moment that I didn’t think that respect was shown to my team.”
Despite the tension, Arsenal went on to secure a 1-0 victory on the night, completing a 4-2 aggregate win and booking a League Cup final showdown with Manchester City on March 22.
Addressing the issue on Friday, Arteta responded calmly and offered an apology if any boundaries were crossed.
“It’s his opinion, and we respect everybody,” the Arsenal boss said. “At any point, if one of the staff members did that, we apologise. It’s very common in football. With the keepers, they need to kick long balls.”
Attention now shifts back to the Premier League, where Arsenal have an opportunity to extend their lead at the summit when they host Sunderland on Saturday. With Manchester City not in action until Sunday against Liverpool, the Gunners could strengthen their grip on first place.
Arsenal currently sit six points clear of City and seven ahead of Aston Villa. A victory would see them move nine points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side, increasing the pressure ahead of City’s trip to Anfield, a ground where they have often struggled in recent seasons.
However, Arteta has played down any suggestion of title momentum, mindful that Sunderland previously held Arsenal to a draw earlier in the campaign.
“We don’t have much time to listen to that. We are busy with games and training. We are far from that. It’s normal. We are here to learn and improve,” he said.
“Sunderland have been on an incredible run all season. We know the complexity of the match.
“It’s another opportunity to win. To be better in the position. That’s it.”
Alongside their strong domestic form, Arsenal remain active in both the Champions League and FA Cup, keeping alive hopes of silverware on multiple fronts. The club has not lifted a major trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020.
“It’s an amazing group and they are doing an incredible job so far,” Arteta added.
“We are all very excited and privileged to have each other. We are going to enjoy it till the end of the season.”
What you should know
Mikel Arteta’s apology follows a brief touchline dispute sparked by warm-up positioning ahead of Arsenal’s League Cup semi-final win over Chelsea.
While the incident drew criticism from Liam Rosenior, both managers emphasised mutual respect.
Arsenal’s focus now turns to their title push, with the club leading the Premier League and competing strongly across four major competitions as they chase their first league crown since 2004.
