Former Chelsea striker, Chris Sutton, has said that Arsenal’s failure to beat a ten-man Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday is a missed opportunity that would hunt them later in the season.
He feels the Gunners missed a chance to make a statement on Sunday by beating the Blues to send a signal to the other teams in the league.
He said instead, the north London side produced a ‘lame’ and ‘tame’ performance in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea midfielder, Moises Caicedo was shown a straight red card on 38 minutes for a reckless lunge on Mikel Merino.
But it was Chelsea who took the lead three minutes into the second period through Trevoh Chalobah, who headed home from Reece James corner.
Merino put Arsenal on level terms on 59 minutes but that was all from the Gunners despite having the numerical advantage.
“I back Arsenal, I still back Arsenal. But you didn’t go for the jugular again, you’ve been accused of that in the past. Is that a game like today where the title may get away from you?” Sutton said on BBC Radio Five Live.
“I think Mikel Arteta, it falls on him really, not positive enough. Wasn’t positive enough. Playing against 10 men of Chelsea for over a half? Go for the jugular Mikel! Come on!
“It was a great opportunity today, you have the numerical advantage. I think it’s an argument where in the past Arteta has been accused of being slightly negative in his approach when he plays the big teams.
“This was a great opportunity to go and nail Chelsea today and get three points. I don’t think they really pushed Chelsea back and worked Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal enough. You have the numerical advantage and it’s side-to-side. I just think it’s a chance missed.
“You might take that before the game, but if you don’t want to go for the jugular when you’ve got the numerical advantage then you’ve got a problem.
“The way the game panned out, Caicedo got sent off. You have a chance to make a statement to the rest of the Premier League, let’s wipe the floor with Chelsea.
“Caicedo made a mistake, let’s make him pay, let’s really widen the gap at the top of the Premier League. But you didn’t. You were lame, you were tame and that could cost you.”
