Chelsea told ‘they want to be Arsenal’ after Mikel Arteta comparison and Liam Rosenior warning

Chelsea take on Arsenal in the Premier League looking for revenge after defeat to Mikel Arteta’ side in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher claims Chelsea have gone from bullying Arsenal under former owner Roman Abramovich to wanting to be the Gunners. The former England international claims the Blues’ hierarchy are following the Gunners’ suit in appointing a manager with no Premier League experience in Liam Rosenior, just like Arsenal did with Mikel Arteta back in 2019.

Carragher points out the Arsenal boss was significantly less experienced than Rosenior, but there are parallels between the two appointments. Writing in his column for the Telegraph, the former Liverpool defender said: “Chelsea wanted to bully Arsenal in the Roman Abramovich era. Today, they are being run like they want to be them.

“Liam Rosenior’s recent appointment is proof of Chelsea’s hierarchy studying and admiring Arsenal’s blueprint. They hired their new head coach in the hope he will become their version of Mikel Arteta.

“As the clubs prepare to go head to head this weekend, Arteta’s appointment at Arsenal in 2019 offers a useful parallel to Rosenior’s switch to Chelsea in 2026. It is easily forgotten that Arteta was both younger and significantly less experienced than Rosenior is now when he arrived at the Emirates.

“While his status as a former player – and his years working alongside Pep Guardiola – ensured a more positive initial reception at Arsenal than Rosenior encountered in west London, there were nevertheless more established, proven managers out there.

“Joining a club facing the power of Manchester City, Arteta had much to prove to both supporters and senior dressing-room figures, some of whom may have doubted his ability to achieve the influence he wields today.

“Similarities with Rosenior’s situation on joining Chelsea are clear, albeit he inherited a more talented squad than Arteta did seven years ago.”

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Nevertheless, Carragher references Arteta’s big scalps on the way to winning the FA Cup in 2020, beating Man City and Chelsea en route to silverware, claiming Rosenior needs the same type of results.

He continued: “Whether the instruction from above is to embark on a slow and steady rebuild (as it was for Arteta), or to transform a team of huge potential into title contenders within 18 months (as it is for Rosenior), on the day both men took over, their clubs opted against a ready-made finished product. Instead they backed someone they hoped would grow into the job and become “the next big thing” over two or three seasons.

“Big scalps helped Arteta in those early months, especially en route to winning the 2020 FA Cup. He defeated Manchester City in the semi-final at Wembley and Frank Lampard’s Chelsea in the final. That was massive. There were also early victories for Arteta over Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the Premier League and Community Shield.

“Whenever Arteta reflects on his Arsenal career, he will stress the importance of those wins to buy him the time, goodwill and trust, which enabled him to survive the more difficult spells over the following two seasons. Rosenior needs to replicate that instant success against the biggest clubs and rival coaches if he is to last at Stamford Bridge.

“He will only fully convince Chelsea’s supporters when he beats Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United. He faces them all in the Premier League before the end of the season, with the possibility of further encounters with Arsenal, City or Liverpool in the FA Cup and Champions League.

“While finishing in the top five is a must for the club, Rosenior’s reputation as a coach would be better served by defeating one of the big English clubs and securing cup success, just as it was for Arteta in the summer of 2020.

“It is staggering that Chelsea have not won a domestic trophy since 2018. That should make the FA Cup a major target for Chelsea’s new coach, serving both his short-term and long-term ambitions.”

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