A red card is always a handicap, but it’s even more of one when you face over an hour with 10 men.
That was the case for Arsenal against Chelsea on Sunday, and last season’s Premier League champions took advantage to win 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
A win would have sent the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League, but a third consecutive game without a win leaves our title credentials being questioned.
“It was disappointing as we couldn’t really play with our real team for 90 minutes,” Arsène Wenger said to Arsenal Player after the match. “I was very disappointed because in recent games we have lost we have had really harsh decisions against us [like] at Southampton and today.”
On Boxing Day, Wenger’s men lost on the south coast after Shane Long scored a couple of contentious goals. It was our last Premier League defeat before Sunday’s London derby, but another one which really hurt.
With the Premier League title race so close every point matters, and Sunday seemed like a huge chance to take advantage of Manchester City dropping points yet again.
“We had such high expectations today. To lose the game the way we did is really frustrating today and difficult to accept.
“The difficulty was that we went straight away down at 1-0 and we had to attack without being at 0-0 which means you expose yourself at 10 men, but what can you do?
“I think we had a good attitude and fantastic spirit despite the negative result today, I think we should come out [of this] with even more belief.”