Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Score and Reaction from 2015 Premier League Match

Chelsea recorded their first home victory of the 2015/16 Premier League season on Saturday as they beat nine-man Arsenal 2-0 in controversial circumstances at Stamford Bridge, London.

Gabriel Paulista and Santi Cazorla saw red for the visitors, and Chelsea took full advantage as goals from Kurt Zouma and Eden Hazard gave the champions all three points.

Arsenal dominated the early exchanges in a half of few chances, and just as Arsene Wenger was preparing to deliver a positive team talk at the interval, Diego Costa entered wind-up mode and ensured Gabriel was handed his marching orders.

The Spanish striker slapped and elbowed Laurent Koscielny before squaring up with the Arsenal defender, which Gabriel didn't take kindly to.

The Brazilian was shown a yellow card for grappling with Costa, but the madness didn't finish there, as the Chelsea man continued to push and push Gabriel until he kicked out and was rightly sent off.

The Arsenal man should have known better, but it was clear Costa was trying with all his might to get the visitors reduced to 10 men.

Piers Morgan and football writer Miguel Delaney commented on the striker's devious tactics—which, you have to admit, worked:

As the players emerged for the second period, it was all a case of hanging onto the 0-0 for Arsenal, but their defence was breached just eight minutes into the half.

Cesc Fabregas put an irresistible cross in for Kurt Zouma, who nodded home at Petr Cech's near post and celebrated wildly, as Bleacher Report UK revealed:

Chelsea then understandably took their foot off the gas and invited pressure from Arsenal, yet bar a few Theo Walcott snapshots, they never troubled Asmir Begovic.

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Their race was truly won when Cazorla was sent off with 12 minutes to go for a second bookable offence after lunging in on compatriot Fabregas—his first league dismissal, according to WhoScored.com:

There was still time for Hazard to add a second goal for the Blues, as his shot flicked in off Calum Chambers and completely wrong-footed Cech in the Arsenal goal.

It's one for the Dubious Goals Panel, but Hazard's first goal of the season was nothing more than he deserved after an excellent performance.

Likewise the victory for Chelsea. While the 2-0 win will be overshadowed by the actions of Costa, Jose Mourinho got his tactics spot on against a very talented opposition and ensured his bragging rights over Wenger will continue.

Chelsea travel to St James' Park to take on Newcastle United in the Premier League next time out, and they'll be looking to build on an excellent display.

Manchester City may be cruising at the top of the table, but the Blues showed on Saturday the title race is far from over.

Reaction

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All the post-match talk was of Gabriel's sending off, and Arsenal boss Wenger cut a frustrated figure while speaking to BBC Sport:

"

I would not like to be Mike Dean tonight. Costa twice should be sent off. He hits him in the face in purpose. In every game he has aggravation and he gets away with it because of the weakness of the referee. We knew before the game he is only looking at that. Gabriel should not have responded at all but the two sending offs for us and Costa staying on the pitch is a shame.

"

Mourinho, meanwhile, took a different approach, labelling Costa the man of the match, not the villain of the piece: "Good victory, we need to win matches. We won twice in three days, we kept two clean sheets. We controlled the matches. I don't have a view on the sending off. Man of the match for sure was Diego Costa. He brought everything to the game."

The Special One also took a swipe at the Gunners after their complaints about the two sending offs and Costa's conduct, per Eurosport UK:

The victory put Chelsea's season back on track, but all the post-match hype will surround Costa's questionable behaviour on the pitch.