I can’t believe - Ex-Arsenal star slams Chelsea’s 'timid' display after Carabao Cup exit

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has launched a scathing attack on Chelsea following their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, describing the Blues’ performance as timid and unacceptable for a club of their stature.

Arsenal sealed their place in the final with a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Kai Havertz, completing a 4-2 aggregate victory over their London rivals and extending Mikel Arteta’s recent dominance in the fixture.

Trailing 3-2 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea needed at least one goal at the Emirates Stadium to force extra time.

However, Liam Rosenior’s side adopted a cautious, conservative approach that failed to trouble Arsenal for large periods of the match.

Reacting to the match on Sky Sports, Merson did not hide his frustration at what he felt was a lack of ambition from Chelsea.

“I’m flabbergasted. I can’t believe what I’ve just watched. Chelsea aren’t a bottom-five team. They have World Cup winners,” Merson said.

Merson also pointed to the emotional reaction of defender Wesley Fofana, using it as a symbol of Chelsea’s disappointing exit.

“Fofana is crying. He should be crying because they never had a go. They’ve gone out with a whimper in a semi-final. It hasn’t worked. Go out in a blaze of glory, don’t go out like that,” he added.

He stressed that losing while showing fight would have been more acceptable than what he viewed as a passive display.

“This is the semi-final of a cup. Chelsea have got the players to mix it with Arsenal, and they didn’t have a go. If they’d lost 3-0 but had shot after shot, that’s the way it is,” Merson said.