How Arsenal's naivety keeps costing them against Chelsea

Same old, same old: Another Arsenal player sees red against Chelsea
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James Benge24 January 2016

Another Chelsea game and yet again Arsenal have no-one but themselves to blame for a dispirting, and potentially critical, loss.

The 1-0 defeat at the Emirates turned on Per Mertesacker’s 18th minute red card, as the central defender hacked down Diego Costa with the Chelsea forward powering towards goal as he picked up a superb through ball by Willian.

There could be few complaints among Arsenal fans over Mark Clattenburg’s decision and from that moment onwards the same old plot was to play out on the Emirates pitch.

Costa scored the opener midway through the second half after Gabriel had lost his man as once more a defensive blunder cost Arsenal against the champions.

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Player ratings

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Despite passing the nine hour mark without scoring a Premier League goal against Chelsea many Arsenal fans took heart from an improved second half, and there was certainly plenty to please the eye.

Alexis Sanchez made an impact, Hector Bellerin was a constant threat down the right and Mesut Ozil had bright touches aplenty. If they’d had 11 men on the pitch, perhaps they’d even have got a point.

It is just the latest in a string of occasions Arsenal have shot themselves in the foot against Chelsea, the sixth time since they last won a league game against their London rivals that they have blown it.

Standard Sport examines the incidents below.

January 2013, Wojciech Szczesny gives away a penalty, Chelsea win 2-1

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Four home games without a win for Chelsea under Rafa Benitez and the home side were in free-fall. Juan Mata had already given his side a lead in the fifth minute before Szczesny gave away a penalty after sloppy defending from his team-mates, who had left Ramires unmarked in the area.

Lampard made it 2-0 at Stamford Bridge after 16 minutes; Arsenal never looked like finding a way back into it.

March 2014, Kieran Gibbs sent off, Chelsea win 6-0

GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images

There are times when luck and temperament evades Arsenal, as in Wenger’s humiliating 1,000th game in charge.

Gibbs was given a red card on 17 minutes after team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had handled in the area for a penalty. The latter begged the referee, "Ref, it was me", but Andre Marriner was unmoved.

The Gunners were already 2-0 down but any hope of a fightback was over with Arsenal losing a defender and a further four goals ensued.

October 2014, Laurent Koscielny gives away a penalty, Chelsea win 2-0

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

An even opening to the contest then an Arsenal centre-back makes a mistake after being caught out by a moment of brilliance. Ring any bells?

In truth there was little Koscielny could do as Hazard ghosted past three players, but yet again Arsenal had found themselves with a mountain to climb thanks to loose defending.

September 2015, Gabriel and Santi Cazorla see red, Chelsea win 2-0

The sending-off of Gabriel still rankles with Wenger after the Arsenal defender kicked out at Diego Costa when the Chelsea forward had been grappling with Laurent Koscielny.

Arsenal were vindicated on appeal, with Gabriel’s ban overturned and Costa missing three games for violent conduct, but it didn’t bring back the three points.

January 2016, Per Mertesacker sent off, Chelsea win 1-0

The Gunners started the day 19 points ahead of their opponents, knowing a win would put them back at the top of the table. A chance to make a statement with victory over their London rivals.

And all those hopes evaporated in the first half, as Costa once more “got an opponent sent off”, as Wenger suggested he had. But there could be few complaints about the decision, and once more the Arsenal’s nemesis was not Costa, Jose Mourinho or the referee. It was themselves.

Did Mertesacker deserve a red? Have your say below

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