It was a cagey start to the match, with both sides content to play it safe, keep things tight, and not make any tie-changing mistakes at that point. Chelsea set out in a back-five, with the wingbacks pushing forward in possession, but the focus was mainly on restricting Arsenal’s chances (and dealing with any Arsenal set pieces).
And that plan worked well enough for the first hour or so, at which point Liam Rosenior switched it up and signaled his intention to go for it by putting on Cole Palmer and Estevao,
and reshaping the team into our more customary 4-2-3-1 look. We needed just the one goal to get things to extra-time and possibly penalties.
Arsenal responded by making a few changes of their own, and also making the game a bit more chippy than before.
Alas, Chelsea were not quite able to generate enough chances to break through. Arsenal scored with the final touch of the game after we had thrown everyone forward. They advance to the final; we go home.
Carefree.
- Unclear to what extent Rosenior’s choices were motivated the various injuries and fitness concerns in the squad, but credit I guess for trying something different and looking to actively address the situation
- Next up: Wolves away on Saturday
- KTBFFH
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