Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has admitted the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday was a frustrating one but insists we have to move on.
After Per Mertesacker was sent off the Gunners had to play over 70 minutes with 10 men, and Diego Costa’s goal was the decider. Arsenal had already gone below Leicester City and Manchester City on Saturday, and Sunday’s result was a real source of annoyance.
“We are fighting for the title and it is frustrating,” Flamini said after the game. “We gave it everything and it was not easy today against 11 men but what can I say?”
“I don’t want to comment on the red card. The referee is responsible. We will see about it later.”
Playing with a man down, Arsenal really struggled to create anythig against a disciplined Chelsea team. Guus Hiddink’s men stuck to their jobs and managed to see the game out without too much trouble.
One of our few chances fell to Flamini, but he couldn’t make it count. Nonetheless, the title race remains wide open.
“I thought I could take it with one touch but it was going very quickly so it was hard.
“Of course. It is a long run and we still have to fight and move forward. It is only a game but today is frustrating and a disappointment.”
Indeed it is.
Maybe it will be nice to have an FA Cup game to focus on next week with Burnley coming to London before our next Premier League match against Southampton on the 2nd February.