EPL: Arteta Apologises to Chelsea Boss Rosenior After Touchline Dispute
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has apologised to Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior following a pre-match disagreement over pitch encroachment ahead of their League Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday, February 11.
The incident occurred during the warm-up before kickoff, after members of Arsenal’s technical staff were seen entering Chelsea’s half of the pitch. Rosenior visibly objected, insisting they return to their designated area, and later voiced his frustration despite Arsenal’s 1–0 victory, which sealed a 4–2 aggregate win and booked their place in the final.
Speaking after the match, Rosenior said he felt the situation disrupted Chelsea’s preparations and momentarily crossed a line of respect.
“I’ve never asked my team or coaches to encroach on the opposition’s territory,” he said. “I didn’t think it was right where they were operating; it affected our warm-up. I asked them to stay in their half. I have a lot of respect for Mikel, but in that moment, I didn’t think that respect was shown to my team.”
Addressing the issue ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League clash against Sunderland, Arteta acknowledged the complaint and offered an apology, stressing there was no intention to disrespect Chelsea.
“It’s his opinion, and we respect everybody,” Arteta said. “If at any point one of the staff members did that, we apologise. It’s very common in football, especially with goalkeepers needing to kick long balls.”
With the win, Arsenal progressed to the League Cup final, where they will face Manchester City on March 22. Arteta’s side now shifts focus back to the Premier League, holding a six-point lead at the top of the table ahead of a crucial away fixture against Liverpool.
Despite growing title talk, Arteta remained cautious, insisting his attention is firmly on the next challenge.
“We are far from that,” he said. “Sunderland have been on an incredible run all season. We know how complex the match will be. It’s another opportunity to win and improve our position.”
Arsenal remain active in four competitions this season as they continue their push for a first major trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2020.
