Chelsea FC striker Diego Costa continued his excellent run of form under interim manager Guus Hiddink, deciding the game in the favour of his team yet again after drawing a last-man foul from Per Mertesacker and scoring the winning goal shortly after the German received his marching orders.
With title contenders Arsenal FC the clear favourites going into the London derby at the Emirates on Sunday, many expected this to be the game in which the Gunners ended their winless run against Chelsea FC. However, it was not to be, with German centre-back Per Mertesacker receiving a straight red card for his last-man tackle on Diego Costa, before the Spain international scored the decisive goal just minutes after the incident.
The Blues’ unbeaten run against the Gunners now stands at nine games, with Arsène Wenger’s men last getting all three points against their London rivals back in 2011, when Robin van Persie’s hat-trick at Stamford Bridge decided the outcome of a thrilling clash.
Both Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC fans took to Twitter to express their emotions, with the former understandably delighted with an unexpectedly brilliant result. The Gunners’ support, meanwhile, lamented the performance of referee Mark Clattenburg, with many protesting the red card to Mertesacker, claiming he made no contact with Diego Costa at all.
Here are some of the best reactions from the game:
@diegocosta has got as many @Arsenal players sent off this season as trophies they’ve won in 11 years!! (2) ?
— Jason Victor Cundy (@jasoncundy05) January 25, 2016
Anyone who thinks that Diego Costa dived today needs to contact @Specsavers.
— Chelsea HQ (@Chelsea_HQ) January 24, 2016
Underappreciated in all the drama here is that *Diego Costa* won a red card fair and square, with skill and not gamesmanship.
— Michael Caley (@MC_of_A) January 24, 2016
Obviously that was a red card, but Costa’s 4 roll swan dive is the reason he’s so disliked. So unnecessary.
— Natalie Pirks (@Natpirks) January 24, 2016
Hopefully that’s the last of Per and Flamini in our first XI
— Dezil Dez (@DezilDez) January 24, 2016
Flamini, Mertesacker & Walcott all need to be dropped for the benefit of the team. Alexis Sanchez, Gabriel & Coquelin all have to come in.
— Arsenal News (@__arsenalnews_) January 25, 2016
GIF: Costa’s dive. #afc pic.twitter.com/wRpoAX274G
— Arsenal TSN (@ArsenalTSN) January 24, 2016
Worst Chelsea side in years. Still slap Arsenal. London’s first, London’s finest.
— ChelseaFansChannel (@ChelseaFansYT) January 24, 2016
No look tackles is actually a thing now according to Mertesacker pic.twitter.com/AnpfuZi8F8
— ÖzilWizardry (@OzilWizardry) January 24, 2016
Per Mertesacker tracking back on defence. pic.twitter.com/7kn6H1pOXK
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) January 24, 2016
It’s also now 500 minutes since Arsenal scored a league goal against Chelsea.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) January 24, 2016
Arsenal PL record v #Chelsea since 2012: 9 games 0 wins 3 draws 6 losses 3 points from 27 No goals in over 9 hours football #LondonIsBlue
— Andy (@ChelsLad66) January 25, 2016
21% – More than a fifth of Chelsea’s points (6 of 28) in the Premier League this season have come against Arsenal. Neighbourly.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 25, 2016
Arsenal’s last 6 league games vs. Chelsea: 0-1 Chelsea 0-2 Chelsea 0-0 Chelsea 0-2 Chelsea 0-6 Chelsea 0-0 Chelsea pic.twitter.com/xmFBCDAWUp
— GeniusFootball (@GeniusFootball) January 24, 2016