Chelsea star Moises Caicedo is SENT OFF for reckless challenge on Arsenal's Mikel Merino in feisty London derby

Chelsea suffered a huge first half blow in their Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday as Moises Caicedo was sent off for a reckless challenge. 

In a feisty start to the game that saw five yellow cards handed out in the first 45 minutes, Caicedo was given his marching orders by referee Anthony Taylor just before half-time.

As the Gunners built an attack, the Ecuadorian caught Mikel Merino late after the Spaniard had passed the ball on. 

Caicedo's challenge was high and he connected with Merino above his ankle with his studs.

Although he initially went unpunished as play continued, a lengthy VAR check then took place.

Merino was writhing around on the floor in pain, while Caicedo also appeared to be in some discomfort. 

Taylor then handed Caicedo a yellow card, before he was instructed to visit the on-pitch monitor by VAR official John Brooks.

After watching multiple replays of the incident, Taylor upgraded his decision to a red card.

Announcing the call to the Stamford Bridge crowd, the experienced official said: 'After review, Chelsea's No 25 makes a challenge with excessive force and he has endangered an opponent. Therefore my final decision is red card.'

Caicedo, who was on the touchline receiving treatment at the time, appeared bemused by the decision and attempted to remonstrate with Taylor, but fourth official Samuel Barrott held him back. 

Speaking in the Sky Sports studio at half-time, former Chelsea star Daniel Sturridge said: 'The only defence I can have is the referee has a good view and decided to give him a yellow to start. 

'It looks nasty slowed down, but initially the referee makes it a yellow so in doing that (giving him a red) he has slightly re-reffed it and gone with the VAR help. 

'If you look at it in the high speed it doesn't look that bad of a tackle, but slowed down it does.'

Sturridge caveated his opinion with the feeling that it was definitely a red card, but he felt the fact Taylor was sent to the on-pitch monitor meant Caicedo was always going to be dismissed.  

'The point I'm trying to say is when you look at in slow motion it makes the referee's mind up for him,' he added.

Theo Walcott agreed with his colleague, before he criticised Caicedo for putting himself at risk of a red card in the first place.

'Why is he making that tackle in that position?,' he said. 'There's no need. In that moment Chelsea were on top and he doesn't have to commit.

'I agree with Daniel in the fact he'd been given a yellow initially so maybe it has been re-reffed.'

Walcott continued: 'Arsenal do now have to go and win now. The problem for Arsenal has been the mistakes they've made to lead to Chelsea chances. If Arsenal can now win this, they can take a big gap from Chelsea.'

Sturridge added: 'Chelsea are going to have to work their socks off here for a full half.

'They've got to stay dedicated to the task, there's a lot of work to be done, and they've got to give absolutely everything to get a result.'

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