Chelsea skipper John Terry: ‘Top-four finish still possible’

Mertesacker was sent-off in the 18th minute for a late challenge on the Spaniard, who was running towards goal. “He has got two players sent off this season”, Wenger said.

And Matic told the club’s official website: “This was the real Chelsea, and I believe that we can show again in the future that we deserve to play for this club”. Those are only facts. Was the decision right or wrong?

Speaking to the Daily Star, the former chief said: “He is a serial cheat and he gets away with it. I think he deliberately ran in front of Mertesacker, who hardly touched him. Without accusing him of anything”. “You have to take a decision in 15 seconds, but I think you could have had the two guys staying on the field”.

The relationship is repaired now, with Costa regaining that mixture of marksmanship and menace that made him so significant in last season’s Premier League title win. He further admitted that, though the result was a frustrating one which saw Arsenal relinquish the top spot to Leicester City, the Gunners had even more belief in themselves after fighting it out with 10 men.

Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink said that Mertesacker’s lunge had merited “a red card without any discussion”.

“We had some very good attacks before the red card, Willian had a couple of good opportunities”.

“I had some doubts over the Fabregas penalty, yes or no. I can understand why the referee didn’t give a penalty, fair enough”.

“We had to regroup, we had to make sure that we reorganised and try to continue with 10 men”.

The ESPN FC crew weigh in on Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal, which has many Gunners fans up in arms.

The champions, unbeaten in seven league games since Jose Mourinho’s dismissal, remain 14 points below the top four, but captain John Terry said that Champions League qualification was still “doable”. It is a tough league and if we put a run together we have a good chance [of fourth]. It’s a gap and, with that gap, it’s hard to go into fourth position. “If the captain says “yes” we will follow the captain”.