John Terry has hit out at Arsenal’s reaction to their Carabao Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea, accusing Mikel Arteta’s players of ‘celebrating far too much’ and ‘showing the pressure’.
Holding a 3-2 lead from the first leg, Arsenal found themselves in the driving seat to advance through to this year’s final – but they were made to work for it at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
The visitors, starting out with a back five, managed to keep the Gunners’ chances to a minimum across what was largely a turgid and cagey affair in north London.
But Arteta made a double substitution with 20 minutes remaining of the second leg and the change worked wonders, with ex-Chelsea man Kai Havertz coming on and scoring deep into stoppage time to send the home crowd into a frenzy.
Only Manchester City – who got the better of Newcastle in their semi-final – stand between Arsenal and the club’s first piece of major silverware since their FA Cup triumph in Arteta’s debut season way back in 2020.
Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea, meanwhile, will look to bounce back from the disappointment when they return to Premier League action away to lowly Wolves later today.
Reflecting on Chelsea’s 4-2 aggregate defeat, club legend Terry felt his former side left it ‘far too late’ to try and overturn the deficit away from home in the second leg.
Also Read: Chelsea Manager Rosenoir Accuses Arsenal Of Disrespect
“I think against Arsenal, this year the two games I’ve seen, we’ve outplayed Arsenal,” the ex-Chelsea and England captain said in a video on his TikTok page (via Metro).
“So going into those games, I’ve never feared Arsenal anyway, in the league or in any competition.
“I think it’s different if we’re in the Champions League semi-final, I think you’re approach then becomes a little bit cautious.
“But it’s the Carabao Cup, we’ve won it many times and we had nothing to fear, I don’t think, going into that. I think the pressure was on Arsenal in the week and I think we made it very easy for them at home as well, so disappointed with that, I think we left it far too late.”
Terry then turned his attentions to Arsenal’s celebrations after the second leg, which he felt were over the top given ‘wasn’t the Champions League final’.
According to Terry, the reaction demonstrated how Arteta’s players are ‘showing the pressure’ and ‘feeling the nerves’ with so much expectation on their shoulders this season.
“I just want to talk on Arsenal’s celebrations after… let’s not forget, it’s the Carabao Cup, it’s not the Champions League final,” he went on.
“They celebrated far too much for me, I think that showed the pressure that’s on them at the moment.
“I’ve said it before, Arsenal are looking the best team by far in the Premier League so far and I think they’ve got the best squad in the Premier League so far.
“They’ve got a lot of strength in depth and I think they’ve been the best, but also, it certainly wasn’t the Champions League final that they’ve qualified to, it’s the Carabao Cup final.
“Yes, it’s the first competition you can win, I think it’s really important, but that just showed me where the Arsenal team are at at the moment.
“They can feel the nerves and I know every Arsenal fan out there is feeling what I’m feeling, that there’s still a chance.”
1 Comment
Oga o! It is well o. So we should not celebrate again when we win. Everybody is now against Arsenal.
Maybe we’ll start crying whenever we win or rather still, we keep mute.
How can you complain of a team that just reached a final for the first time in many years not to celebrate.
Hmm! Arsenal haters, take it easy o.