Enzo Maresca criticised inconsistent refereeing after Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea head coach was frustrated that Moisés Caicedo was sent off for a tackle on Mikel Merino, while Arsenal's Piero Hincapié avoided a red card for an aerial challenge that left Trevoh Chalobah with a black eye.
Maresca accepted Caicedo's red card was justified, but questioned why Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur was not sent off for a similar tackle against Chelsea in November. "We struggle to understand why they judge in different ways," he said. "Moi's is a red card, yes. Bentancur's is a red card, yes. Why they don't give him a red card?"
On Hincapié's challenge, Maresca said the referee told him it was not an elbow, despite Chalobah needing ice on a black eye at half-time. "I think Reece [James] is right," Maresca added, backing his player's view that Arsenal should have been reduced to ten men.
Despite the setback, Maresca was pleased with Chelsea's performance after losing Caicedo, who will miss games against Leeds, Bournemouth and Everton. Chalobah had given Chelsea the lead before Merino equalised for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and claimed Chelsea deliberately targeted his players to even the numbers. "Those players were constantly targeted to try to even the game in terms of numbers," the Arsenal manager said.
