Another big match, another huge failure for Arsenal, beaten by Chelsea 6-0 and it could have been much worse. However, the most memorable moment has nothing to do with goals, but referee Andre Marriner sending off Kieran Gibbs instead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
But the red card just helped speed up the proceedings in the demolition, as every stereotype about the two teams and two managers came true. Arsenal did get the first couple of chances, but some awful goalkeeping from Wojciech Szczesny early on, helped by some very poor defending, resulted in a 2-0 lead for Chelsea after only 7 minutes. First it was Samuel Eto’o from the right side of the box finding the space to convert his chance, and then it was Andre Schurrle, red hot at the moment, with another shot, this time from outside the box, that the Polish goalkeeper should have saved.
Eto’o was injured moments after and was replaced by Fernando Torres. Torres set up a good chance for Eden Hazard inside the box, which might not have went inside, but was still saved by Oxlade-Chamberlain with his hand. Both the referee and his assistants didn’t really see the incident, but seemed convinced that some wrongdoing was done. However, instead of sending off Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs was the one who was shown the red card, even though Oxlade-Chamberlain told him he was the one who touched the ball with his hand.
It only got worse from there. Eden Hazard scored from the penalty spot, and Chelsea simply wouldn’t relent. Their manager, and the players themselves, smelled the blood in the water, and weren’t going to let an opportunity to humiliate their rivals in a derby, not to mention Arsene Wenger.
Nemanja Matic put in a masterclass in the middle of the pitch and Chelsea took a 4-0 lead before the halftime whistle, Oscar being the one who scores. Oscar got on the scoresheet once again in the 66th minute and Mohamed Salah scored his first goal in the Premier League to complete the demolition in the 71st minute.
Arsene Wenger has now suffered another defeat against one of his title rivals, if there is even a title race for him to be in. Jose Mourinho? His team continues to lead the Premier League, demonstrating their power once more, hoping that Manchester City and Liverpool don’t do well in their pursuit.