Chelsea captain Cesar Aspilicueta has been embroiled in a heated confrontation with his own supporters following his team’s disappointing 4-2 defeat as host to London rivals Arsenal. The European champions, who are still five points away from their opponents, failed to continue overnight when Mikel Arteta’s team showed their top four qualifiers with the perfect response to three consecutive Premier League defeats.
Still, Aspilicueta, who also scored for Chelsea, had to give thanks in part after clashing with Bucayo Saka at the end of the second half, prompting referee Jonathan Moss to award a penalty that allowed Arsenal to kill the match.
Saka stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards out, sending Edward Mendy the wrong way to send traveling fans into ecstasy.
Tensions were high in the stands full time and Chelsea suffered without a sold-out Stamford Bridge crowd due to sanctions against them following the club’s former ties to former owner Roman Abramovich.
A small collection of Chelsea fans seems to have clarified their feelings for Aspilicueta and the performance of their team after the last referee signal, while the Spaniard marched to the audience.
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He was angry at Moss’s decision to award a penalty and even wondered to Saka that he had left.
The Arsenal striker later said of the incident: “Of course he will be angry with me, but that’s it. It was a penalty.”
Arsenal took the lead through frontman with two goals Eddie Nketia, who really caught the eye after replacing Alexander Lacazette.
Chelsea soon managed to equalize the result through the deflected shot of Timo Werner, who somehow found his way past the confused Aaron Ramsdale.
Emile Smith Rowe soon regained Arsenal’s lead with an excellent slot finish that ended a classy counterattack by the Gunners.
But once again Chelsea returned the blow with Aspilicueta to realize from a cross.
With a 2-2 break at the break, Arsenal showed character to regain the lead in the second half, when Nketia scored his second of the evening.
Saka then made sure of all three points from the penalty, as Arsenal returned to the hunt for fourth.
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