Arsenal fans outraged: 'Caicedo’s tackle was horrific'

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino criticized Moises Caicedo’s violent challenge in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea, insisting the player should have been shown a direct red card.

The London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal ended in a 1-1 draw, but the main focus was on the dangerous foul that led to Moises Caicedo being sent off. Midfielder Mikel Merino, who was the victim of the challenge, did not hesitate to describe the incident as “a terrible tackle.”

In the 34th minute, Caicedo lunged in with his studs up, striking Merino’s ankle heavily during a contest for the ball. Referee Anthony Taylor initially showed a yellow card, but after a VAR review, he upgraded it to a direct red for the Ecuadorian midfielder. Taylor explained: “It was an overly forceful challenge, endangering the opponent.”

After the match, Merino told Sky Sports: “I felt my ankle was twisted backwards. Luckily, I have flexible joints; otherwise, it could have been a serious injury. It was a clearly horrific tackle that deserved a red card.” When asked if he spoke to Caicedo after the game, the Spanish star replied briefly: “No. There’s nothing to say.”

Despite playing with one man advantage, Arsenal only managed a draw after Trevoh Chalobah gave Chelsea the lead before halftime. Merino himself equalized for the Gunners in the 60th minute with a powerful header, securing a valuable point in the Premier League title race.

Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca admitted the red card was “according to the rules” but expressed frustration over inconsistent refereeing decisions across matches. “Caicedo’s challenge was a red card, I agree. But why did Bentancur’s similar foul on Reece James not result in a sending off? We find their assessments hard to understand,” he said.

Statistics show this was Chelsea’s seventh red card in the 2025–2026 season, a worrying figure for Maresca’s team if they hope to keep pace with Arsenal in the title race.