Robert Sánchez certainly doesn’t want to remember the Arsenal game.
Liam Rosenior (right) experienced defeat in his home debut as Chelsea manager. PDO
Chelsea head coach With Liam Rosenior had a soft landing in his new job.
Rosenior, who started as coach of the Blues last week, was able to coach the team to an easy 5-1 away win against Charlton.
Saturday’s cup win came from an opponent playing lower in the league.
On Wednesday, there was already a significantly bigger challenge ahead, when Premier League leader Arsenal came to West London.
The first leg of the League Cup semi-final was also Rosenior’s debut in front of his own Stamford Bridge home crowd.
It certainly didn’t go as planned.
And the main culprit for that was Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchezwho was directly responsible for the two back-to-back goals.
First, in the eighth minute, he gasped desperately for air as the ball flew past the Spanish cashier. Ben White butt in the end By Declan Rice corner kick into the empty net.
Right at the beginning of the second period, Sánchez scored Arsenal’s second goal. This time he let White’s concentration slip through his hands.
The goalkeeper could only watch in horror Viktor Gyökeres neat ball from the meter into the net.
Garnacho at its best
Rosenior had to react and he did Alejandro Garnachon to the field immediately after the setback.
Arsenal players celebrate Viktor Gyökeres’ (second right) 2-0 lead goal. PDO
The Argentine wanted to impress his new boss right away. Only a few minutes passed when he took Pedro Neto took possession of the cross and immediately fired into the Chelsea narrows with his second touch.
Arsenal’s was responsible for the most beautiful goal of the evening Martín Zubimendiwho strayed first by Andrey Santosstill passed Wesley Fofana before blasting a hard left-footed shot past Sánchez.
It was the only Arsenal goal of the evening that didn’t go straight to the Spaniard.
Before the final whistle, Garnacho had time to reduce the final numbers to 2–3 with a skillful half volley.
The latter part of the two-part semi-final will be played in North London at the Emirates on the third day of February.
Arsenal have yet to lose once at home this season, so their chances of advancing to the final match are excellent.