Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has revealed Moises Caicedo's red card against Arsenal cost Enzo Maresca's side all three points at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Blues seem to have a discipline problem this season, as they've received seven yellow cards in 20 games across all competitions this season.
Their coach, Enzo Maresca, was sent off in his side's victory against Liverpool, but six of their on-field players have suffered the same fate as well, with six of those coming in the English Premier League.
– Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez (vs. Manchester United, Sept. 20)
– Defender Trevoh Chalobah (vs. Brighton, Sept. 27)
– Striker Joao Pedro (vs. Benfica, Sept. 30)
– Defender Malo Gusto (vs. Nottingham Forest, Oct. 18)
– Striker Liam Delap (vs. Wolves, Oct. 29)
– Midfielder Moises Caicedo (vs. Arsenal, Nov 30)
Mikel Obi addresses Chelsea's red card issues
The Blues' four red cards this term has seen them get in line to break an unwanted Premier League discipline record.
Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers racked up nine dismissals each across 38 games in 2009/10 and 2011/12, respectively, and should Chelsea fail to cool their tempers, they could well surpass that record.
Mikel, who won two Premier League titles during his time at Stamford Bridge, was delighted at how his former side played with ten men for the major part of the game.
“It was a good game to watch. A lot happened, didn't it?
“From the red card to the goal to Arsenal coming back to score an equaliser. It's a lot of yellow cards, a kind of game I'd have loved to play,” the 38-year-old said on the Obi One Podcast.
“It was a kind of game that Diego Costa would've loved to be in, kicking, pulling and punching everything he sees.
Moises Caicedo was given his marching orders in the 38th minute by referee Anthony Taylor after he clattered into Mikel Merino's ankle without getting the ball.
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With ten men, Chelsea broke the deadlock through Trevor Chalobah from a corner kick three minutes after the restart before Mikel Merino scored the equaliser on the hour mark.
The two-time UEFA Champions League winners then held on for a point, but Mikel opines that the home side could've gotten all three points if they had eleven men on the pitch.
“I think it was a good game, we played a good match. Going down to ten men with about an hour on the clock was brilliant,” the AFCON 2013 winner continued.
“We started the game well and then went down to ten men. There's something we need to deal with. How many games have we finished this season with eleven men?
“That's four red cards this season; it's not good enough. I've spoken about it; the manager needs to talk with the players, because it's costing us games as well.
“If you look at that game, if we finished with eleven men, I think we could've won. Maybe not easily, but comfortably, we could've secured a win.
“Yes, we got a point, but we could've got three if we finished with a complete team. Whatever we have to do to finish with eleven players, the manager has to find a way.
“We start a game well, go down to ten men, then we suffer and struggle.
The former Super Eagles captain has been an avid critic of Robert Sanchez due to his goalkeeping errors, but praised the Spaniard for his brilliant saves against the Gunners.
“Sanchez was brilliant. Listen, when a player does well, we have to speak about him.
“As much as we've criticised him, we have to praise him when he plays well.
“He made some good saves as well. Chalobah, Cucurella, Fofana, and the captain Reece James were all really good,” he concluded.
Chelsea are now third on the Premier League table, six points behind Arsenal and a point behind Manchester City.
