Chelsea’s discipline problems got worse at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday when Pedro Neto was sent off after getting a second yellow card during the Premier League game against Arsenal. The 25-year-old Portuguese winger’s red card adds to what has already been a frustrating season of bad behaviour for Liam Rosenior’s team, who now have seven red cards in just 28 Premier League games this year.
Neto got his first yellow card for complaining about Arsenal’s second goal, and then he got a second yellow for knocking down Gabriel Martinelli during an Arsenal counterattack. It was a pointless and annoying moment that left Chelsea with only 10 players when they really needed everyone on deck in the title contenders’ backyard. After the red card, Rosenior had to make quick changes, bringing in Malo Gusto for Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia for Andrey Santos.
Seven Red Cards In 28 Games: The Complete List Of Chelsea Players Who Have Been Sent Off This Season
Neto’s red card is part of a trend that has lasted through three different managers. Enzo Maresca, Calum McFarlane, and Liam Rosenior have all given Chelsea red cards this season. This suggests that the problem is bigger than just one manager’s style of play.
Robert Sanchez was sent off early in the campaign for taking down an attacker, and Trevoh Chalobah was next for a tactical foul against Brighton. After getting two yellow cards, Malo Gusto got a red card. Moises Caicedo got a red card for a reckless challenge against Arsenal in November.
In Chelsea’s loss to Fulham, Marc Cucurella got a straight red card. Last weekend, Wesley Fofana got a red card against Burnley, which cost Chelsea dearly because they gave up a last-minute equalizer to draw 1-1. This season, Neto is the seventh Chelsea player to be sent off in the league.
Sunderland set the all-time Premier League record for most red cards in a single season with nine in 2009–10. Queens Park Rangers matched that record in 2011–12. Chelsea are well on their way to breaking that record with 10 games left.
Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham, and Newcastle have all had eight players sent off in a single top-flight season. Chelsea are now very close to joining and passing them in this category. The Blues still want to qualify for the Champions League, but their ongoing lack of discipline could get in the way of those goals in the last few weeks of the season.