Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice made a big Mikel Arteta admission when asked about the maturity shown to defeat Chelsea and reach the Carabao Cup final
Declan Rice has revealed that Mikel Arteta ‘controls everything’ at Arsenal in a clear verdict after the Carabao Cup semi-final triumph over Chelsea. The Gunners beat their London rivals 4-2 on aggregate, with the only goal of a cagey second leg at Emirates Stadium coming in the final minutes through Kai Havertz.
Last month at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal won a thrilling first leg 3-2, which put the tie firmly in their hands. A clean sheet for the hosts would have sealed a spot in the final at Wembley, with Arteta’s side seemingly less expansive in their attacking play on the night.
Chelsea were also reluctant to push for goals in the early stages, despite being behind, with Liam Rosenior opting for a back five formation. With the Blues not conceding until several bodies were sent forward during the final stages in search of a winner, the game plan somewhat worked.
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However, Arteta has methodically set up a defensive unit incapable of being penetrated regularly. The Spaniard has improved Arsenal significantly over the last few years with Rice making a clear admission on him after the victory.
He told CBS Sports: “Our manager has total control of everything, from top to bottom of the football club! Everyone listens to him, we all believe in his work. Gabi Heinze has come in, defensive coach, he’s been unbelievable!”
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Earlier in the interview, When asked how he was feeling, Rice replied: “Shattered, the schedule has been ridiculous and when you’re playing Chelsea, who have got so many good players that are constantly making you work [it’s not easy].
“Credit to them it could have gone either way tonight and in the first leg but I think everything we’ve been building towards over the last few years has come together this season. We’re into our first final in a very long time so we need to enjoy the moment.”
The enjoyment of their achievement is expected to be short-lived however, with attention swiftly turning to their next Premier League clash this Saturday which is at home to Sunderland.
A trip to Brentford arrives the following Thursday with the Gunners then hosting Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup that weekend.
Arteta’s side then have the chance to get the jump on some of their rivals with a fixture against Wolves from March brought forward to later this month. That change has been made because Arsenal are now heading to Wembley on the weekend they were scheduled to face the Premier League’s bottom side at Molineux.
That rearrangement gives Arsenal less time to prepare for the North London Derby away at Tottenham. However, it is unlikely Arteta is too concerned, considering the reason with Arsenal in a major final for the first time in nearly six years.
After the victory, he said: “We are so happy. I think overall, over the last two games, I think we deserved to be through. It was a long match, we expected that.
“We wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way, with Kai scoring the goal in the match that he did and the reaction from the crowd.
“The starters, the finishers, the staff, it just was magical. So I’m really happy because it was a really tough match against a great opponent and we are in Wembley.”