goal.com
Arsenal's title aspirations were dented on Sunday as one controversial moment gave their championship rivals hope.
Who: Diego Costa (and Per Mertesacker)
Where: Emirates Stadium, London
When: Sunday 24 January
Black is Bold.
Arsenal hosted troubled Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday knowing that victory over their London rivals would give them a major boost in their hopes of ending their long wait for a Premier League title.
The weeks are speeding past us as we head towards the business end of the campaign, and Arsenal—so often guilty of choking when the pressure increases—know that in order to answer the doubters, they must overcome obstacles such as this.
Chelsea, despite improvement in recent weeks, remain a team with chronic issues—as they demonstrated at home against Everton as they conceded three, only to be bailed out by a late (controversial) John Terry equaliser.
At this stage, the Pensioners ought to represent three points for would-be champions.
However, Arsenal picked up none.
Some might blame Per Mertesacker.
The German defender and World Cup winner has often been criticised for his pace…or lack thereof…but he hardly helped himself by glancing back into the distance as Diego Costa bore down on goal.
This, coupled with the defender's lack of protest as his ill-timed tackle sent the Spaniard hurtling theatrically to the turf, meant that the public were largely understanding when he was sent for an early bath…even if contact appeared to be minima.
His goal went unanswered, and Arsenal dropped to third in the table, with Leicester City and Manchester City usurping the Gunners at the top of the table.
Costa's goal was celebrated in the East Midlands, and in Manchester, with the Foxes, in particular, taking control of the title race, and City, with Sergio Aguero fit again, boast the one player (apart from Costa it seems) who could single-handedly decide where the title ends up…again!
However, could Costa's goal also have been celebrated in North London…in the white half of the capital?
Thierry Henry, speaking after the match, certainly thinks so, and backed Tottenham—for whom Dele Alli hit a wondergoal on Saturday to see off Crystal Palace—to make it a four-horse race for the title.
Diego Costa is made of bold moves. He is #MadeOfBlack
Guinness Weekly Draw Winner's Testimonial
I am Agu Ikechukwu Humphrey [pictured] and I support Chelsea FC. I play the Guinness promo every evening whenever I go to drink, I can’t remember the exact game that I won because I play regularly. I am just an ordinary football fan and I have not really done anything impressive for my club. I was happy when I was called and I believed it immediately. This promo is real and nothing like wayo (fraud) inside. My advice is this is real and I encourage everyone to play. I am going back to play again.
-Played min 27 for Tottenham in Tottenham v Leicester
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