Liam Rosenior feels “encouraged” by loss to Arsenal: A look at his first home game in charge of Chelsea

Liam Rosenior was never going to get a gentle introduction to life at Chelsea, and his first night in charge proved exactly that. The former England international walked into the Stamford Bridge dugout for the first time as a manager and found Arsenal waiting, a side in strong form and chasing trophies.

The Gunners left with a 3–2 win in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, extending Chelsea’s winless home run against their London rivals to eight matches, a sequence that has now stretched across several seasons.

For Rosenior, who took over after Enzo Maresca’s departure on January 1, it was a baptism of fire rather than a soft landing. Yet, in his post-match comments, the ex-Strasbourg manager said he was not discouraged by the defeat. Instead, he was “encouraged by what I saw,” pointing to the reaction of his players, their fight, and the signs of what he wants to build.

The scoreline itself told a story of a match that never settled. Arsenal went two goals up, taking advantage of early mistakes and moments of poor organisation, before Chelsea dragged themselves back into the tie through two goals from substitute Alejandro Garnacho. Even when Mikel Arteta’s side restored their two-goal cushion, Chelsea kept pushing, and the late goal ensured the tie remains alive heading into the second leg.

Rosenior’s Starting XI vs Arsenal

Rosenior’s team selection already hinted at change. His starting line-up featured Robert Sánchez in goal, with a back line of Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella. In midfield, Enzo Fernández partnered Andrey Santos, a pairing that leaned more toward technical control than physical presence.

Out wide, Pedro Neto and Estêvão were tasked with driving at defenders, while Marc Guiu led the line. Garnacho, who ended up being the night’s standout performer, was introduced from the bench and changed the mood of the game almost immediately.

Some of those choices were forced. Chelsea were without Cole Palmer, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Liam Delap, and Jamie Gittens due to a mix of injuries and illness, while Moisés Caicedo was suspended. Rosenior confirmed after the match that Palmer had been left out as a precaution, explaining that rushing him back would have risked a longer absence. The squad had also been dealing with an illness outbreak, which disrupted preparations and limited his options.

Positive Signs

What stood out most was how the World Champions played. Rosenior asked Sánchez to take on new responsibilities in possession, and when mistakes followed, he did not hide behind his goalkeeper. He publicly accepted responsibility, saying that if his players were making errors while learning new instructions, then that was on him. It was a rare show of accountability from a manager on his first night at a major club.

Chelsea’s next test comes in the Premier League against Brentford, and Rosenior has already hinted that some of his missing players could return. Palmer and James are being monitored closely, and their availability would immediately lift the team’s balance and threat

The Arsenal match suggested that Rosenior wants his side to be braver with the ball, more aggressive in wide areas, and more willing to attack even when trailing, rather than settling into damage control. There were mistakes, and Rosenior did not shy away from that. There were also moments of belief, energy, and intent that have not always been visible at Stamford Bridge this season. That is what he meant when he said he was encouraged.

Chelsea lost, and the record against Arsenal at home remains a sore one, but the performance offered a glimpse of what may follow. The former Hull City manager now has the task of turning early promise into points, and of proving that this difficult first night was not just a hard lesson, but the start of something clearer.