It feels like the same old story, and that’s because it is.
We do something stupid, Chelsea take advantage, we don’t beat them. Basically there are two ways games against them have gone in the last few years:
- They play against 10 men or get a penalty
- It ends 0-0
Since the start of 2013 the latter has occurred twice at the Emirates Stadium. One was back in December 2013, when John Obi Mikel should have been sent off but, obviously, wasn’t.
In the last seven Premier League games the teams have played, Arsenal have scored one and conceded 13. Even more amazingly, there have been four red cards and three penalties and all six decisions have gone Chelsea’s way.
Frank Lampard scored a penalty harshly awarded in January 2013. Eden Hazard scored one in March and October 2014, the former saw Kieran Gibbs sent off (though it was actually Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who handled the ball). In the game in October, Gary Cahill should have seen red for a challenge on Alexis Sánchez but got away with it.
Then, after another 0-0, came September 2015 and red cards for Gabriel and Santi Cazorla whilst Diego Costa inexplicably remained on the pitch. Fast-forward to Sunday and it was Per Mertesacker sent for an early bath.
Plenty of what’s happened has been down to our own stupidity, but you can’t deny Chelsea get every single call against us. They make the most of every single decision, they force the referee’s hand while we play right into theirs.
Please wise up, Arsenal. Make the most of every foul, berate the referee, and stop making stupid decisions. At least give us a chance of levelling the playing field against them.