Mertesacker was shown a red card in the 18th minute for a lunging challenge that took down Costa after the striker was sent in on goal.
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The Spain worldwide then took just five minutes to break the deadlock in Mertesacker’s absence, converting Branislav Ivanovic’s pinpoint cross to extend Chelsea’s unbeaten run since Jose Mourinho’s departure to eight matches in all competitions and dent Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes.
Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard returned to the respective squads but only as subs, while Mesut Ozil and Costa were handed starting roles and Pedro missed out with illness. “I am accusing him of nothing, but those are the facts”.
“It is hard because [even though we were] playing with 10 men we thought in the second half that we wouldn’t give up, and we had some chances to get a better score”.
‘We knew that when he scored a few goals again he would go on and score more, and I think he has confidence, ‘ Courtois told the club’s website.
Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa’s every touch was greeted by a chorus of boos, but the pair excelled throughout, and showed Blues fans that they can recapture their grandeur of last season.
“When it was 11 vs11 we were on top”, he explained.
“It’s a shame to put such an energy level into a game and come out without some points”, manager Arsene Wenger said.
And while Wenger will deny that the change of captain impacted on the result, it seems very unlikely that Walcott will be wearing the armband for the FA Cup clash against Burnley next weekend, even with Mertesacker now suspended.
Chelsea are still 14 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur but John Terry, the captain, has still not given up on qualifying for the Champions League next season.
“I can’t influence the decision of the referee”. “Everybody is beating everybody else”.
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He added: “I’m very pleased with the attitude of the team, but I’m also pleased with the way the team tried to play”. “I think he deliberately ran in front of Mertesacker, who hardly touched him”.
