Chelsea’s corner woes ‘not a laughing matter’ after Arsenal defeat – Liam Rosenior

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has acknowledged a growing concern over his team’s defensive frailties from set-pieces, following a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal that has left the Blues six points adrift of fourth place.

Speaking ahead of this week’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, Rosenior admitted that corners are an issue that demands urgent attention if Chelsea are to maintain their Champions League hopes.

The loss at the Emirates Stadium extended Chelsea’s winless streak to three games, a run that has coincided with Liverpool leapfrogging them in the table after a 5-2 victory over West Ham United.

For Rosenior, the focus is now on closing the gap to the top four, but he stressed that discipline and accountability within the squad remain key challenges.

“Disappointment, missed opportunity – they’re the two main things,” Rosenior said of the Arsenal defeat. “After the last three games we’ve had, the performances have been very good but in the moments that mattered, we haven’t taken advantage.”

Turning to defensive set-pieces, Rosenior revealed he has taken a more hands-on approach to correcting the team’s corner problems after Arsenal equalled the Premier League record for goals scored from corners in a single season.

“It’s not a laughing matter because it’s a key thing we have to improve,” he said. “I’ve taken more responsibility in the last week because I know it’s something that has to improve. Bernardo Cueva has proven he is brilliant at what he does, and we need to apply that across the team.”

Chelsea face Aston Villa in a match that now carries the dual weight of salvaging points for the top-four race and proving that Rosenior’s squad can tighten up the lapses that have plagued them in recent weeks.