Liam Rosenior reveals ingenious method to combat Arsenal’s corners in Carabao Cup defeat

Last Updated on 4 February 2026

Arsenal snatched a late winner at the Emirates Stadium against Chelsea to book their place in the Carabao Cup final on Tuesday night.

Kai Havertz’s 97th minute goal made it 1-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate as the Gunners made it to a first cup final in almost six years.

Chelsea controlled possession and registered more shots but could not break down Arsenal’s spectacular defence. But it was a tactic deployed by Liam Rosenior on Arsenal’s corners that caught everyone’s eye.

Liam Rosenior gives Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff a setpiece headache in semi-final defeat

Chelsea may have exited the League Cup, but Rosenior ensured Arsenal were never comfortable at dead balls. Which has been a massive advantage to the Gunners in their on-going campaign, even leading to comparisons with Tony Pulis’ Stoke City.

Instead of flooding the box, Chelsea deliberately stripped it back. At corners, Rosenior instructed three players to sprint toward the halfway line. This dared Arsenal to choose between maximising their aerial advantage or safeguarding against the counter.

The ploy was unveiled in the 17th minute. As Arsenal assembled their usual cluster of tall targets, Chelsea suddenly pushed Malo Gusto, Liam Delap and Jorrel Hato high. The effect was immediate hesitation.

Arsenal delayed the delivery for over half a minute as Jurrien Timber frantically reorganised the rest-defence. Ultimately, Arteta opted for caution. Declan Rice and Zubimendi dropped to monitor Gusto and Delap, while Eberechi Eze hovered wider to track Hato’s positioning.

Eventually, Nico Jover had to concede with Arsenal left with fewer bodies attacking the six-yard box than usual. A small but significant concession given their set-piece strength.

Is Rosenior’s innovation a repeatable tactic to battle Arsenal’s set-piece prowess?

Arsenal’s dominance from corners is built on certainty: clear roles, quick deliveries, and overwhelming the penalty area. Rosenior’s idea attacked that certainty rather than the ball itself.

By committing bodies high, Chelsea forced Arsenal into trade-offs they are rarely asked to make. Do Saliba and Gabriel stay up and risk a three-versus-two sprint defence? Or do midfielders retreat, diluting the aerial threat?

Either way, the advantage Arsenal usually enjoy was blunted before the kick was even taken.

The tactic is not without risk. One mistimed clearance or one successful first ball could leave acres of space behind. But that is precisely why it intrigues. Against elite set-piece sides, conceding control can sometimes be more dangerous than conceding territory.

Whether others follow suit may depend on personnel. Rosenior trusted Gusto’s pace, Delap’s physicality, and Hato’s positioning to make the threat credible. Without that, the bluff collapses.