Chelsea lost 0-1 to Arsenal in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final. Commentator Gary Neville commented on a tactical detail from Rosenior during the game.
Chelsea were well aware of Arsenal's huge threat from corners, but Rosenior chose to take a risk. During an early Arsenal corner in the match, he pushed Delap, Gusto and Wesley Fofana forward, aiming to launch a quick counterattack.
What followed was a bizarre scene as the three players sprinted forward, causing panic among Arsenal players who were forced to chase back to mark them.
Gary Neville was puzzled by this move, saying: “Oh, that's a cunning little tactic. Chelsea are trying something very different here.”
Fellow commentator Jamie Redknapp stated that this move effectively stopped Arsenal from causing chaos in Chelsea's penalty area.
Redknapp said: “I like the plan, but I don't like the three players who went up. My issue with it is you can see Enzo Fernández marking Gabriel, there's a ten-yard gap, and he's one of the best aerial threats in the world.”
“It worked to an extent. The benefit of doing that is it reduces the congestion in the box, which is what Arsenal want to create from these corners.”
On the broadcast, former Arsenal player Ian Wright said: “What we're seeing is Fofana and Delap, they just go straight out. I'm surprised more people don't do this.”
Fans were also surprised by the tactic, with some claiming Rosènil showed courage and deserved praise. One fan wrote on social media: “What on earth is this anti-dark art Rosenior is doing with three players charging to the halfway line on Arsenal corners?!”
Another said: “Well done Rosenior and Chelsea, Arsenal had to adjust for that immediately.”
A third fan added: “Finally someone uses this trick, and of course it's Rosenior.”
Some claimed Rosenior took advice from former goalkeeper Shay Given, who had proposed this tactic during Arsenal's 4-0 win over Leeds United this weekend.
The fan wrote: "My god, can't believe the Chelsea coach actually took Shay Given's advice on how to deal with Arsenal corners, this is hilarious."
