Mikel Arteta issues Liam Rosenior response after Chelsea boss hits out at Arsenal | OneFootball

Gunners were accused of showing lack of ‘respect’ in incident ahead of Carabao Cup semi-final decider

Mikel Arteta has apologised to Chelsea after Liam Rosenior accused Arsenal of a lack of respect, but pointed out the incident is "very common".

One of the Arsenal staff members was in Chelsea's half of the pitch as the goalkeepers kicked the ball long and Rosenior angrily confronted them.

The Blues boss doubled down on Thursday, insisting Arsenal had failed to adhere to "certain etiquettes", but Arteta played down the incident as he offered an apology.

"It's his opinion," Arteta said on Friday. "Obviously we respect everybody and [if] at any point one of the staff members went through that, we apologise and that's it.

"It's very common in football, especially with the keepers because they have to kick long balls and all that. Nothing there to comment."

Arteta dismissed the suggestion that he might now ask his coaches to change how they warm up the players in future.

"I already replied to questions on that, I think that's enough," Arteta said.

Coaches regularly stand around the halfway line, or just beyond, when going through pre-match drills with goalkeepers, which appears to have been the cause of the issue on this occasion.

Long balls that are slightly overhit or misdirected can run into the other half, and the Arsenal coach involved in this case was standing right in front of where Rosenior and members of his staff were watching the warm-ups.

"In that moment, I didn't think it was right where they were operating, they were affecting our warm-up," Rosenior said.

"I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stay in their half. I'm not here to have mind games, it's just what I think is right and respectful. Hopefully, we respect that and other teams do too.

"There are certain etiquettes in football. I don't have an issue with anyone at Arsenal Football Club. Mikel is someone I've got so much respect for.

"It was just in that moment, I didn't think that respect was shown to my team."

Arteta was adamant there were no mind games at play and also insisted he would not be impacted by any attempts from the opposition to distract Arsenal.

"I have no idea but I don't think that was intentional," Arteta said. "I will engage with the things that in my opinion are relevant to the team and what is best for the team and the club, that's for sure."