Liam Rosenior updates on Chelsea absentees against Arsenal and praises Blues' spirit

A hard-fought 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge ended with Arsenal claiming a 3-2 victory. Ben White and Viktor Gyokeres put the visitors in control before Alejandro Garnacho responded for the Blues.

Martin Zubimendi struck a third for Arsenal, only for Garnacho to net again in the closing stages and leave all to play for in the second leg at the Emirates in early February.

The Blues were without the suspended Moises Caicedo against Mikel Arteta's side, while Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Malo Gusto, Reece James and Cole Palmer were also all sidelined. And after the game, Rosenior outlined the reasons as to why.

'With Cole, the game came too early for him,' said the Blues head coach. 'Hopefully, he'll be available to train on Friday and hopefully be ready for us on Saturday.

'He had a little, minor strain in his thigh, and if you play a player too early, in January, with a minor strain, it can turn into six weeks [out injured]. I can't afford to lose Cole Palmer for six weeks because he's too good. Reece had a big knock on his hip; it was too sore for him today, so hopefully he'll be back for Saturday.

'So, considering those two were out, Jamie Gittens was ill last night, Liam Delap was due to play but was ill four hours before the game, Moi Caicedo was suspended and Malo Gusto was out, there are a lot of positive aspects shown by the group tonight.'

On Gittens and Delap, Rosenior added: 'Both of them had really high temperatures – dangerously high. Hopefully, they can rest up and be okay for Saturday.

'I want to keep the ill players away from the group so it doesn't spread, but I felt the energy levels of my group today were a really, really positive thing.'

The clash with the Gunners brought an end to Rosenior's first week in charge of the Blues. With matches coming thick and fast in multiple competitions, quality time on the training pitches to help the players adapt to his methods has been limited.

However, our new head coach was pleased with several aspects of our performance against the Gunners.

'The battling spiriting is what made me so happy,' he said. 'I'm never happy to lose a game of football, of course, but I saw an energy, I saw a determination, and I saw an intensity.

'I felt Enzo Fernandez was outstanding in midfield with Andrey Santos. And bearing in mind the fact that we've had illness in the camp, I thought Marc Guiu gave everything, and I want that in this team; I want us to be known as a team that never gives up, that will run, that will fight, that we press.

'I feel our press in the first half was very good. But we unfortunately conceded from a set play, and that's something that we need to improve on.'

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