Mikel Merino was on the receiving end of a nasty challenge that resulted in Moises Caicedo being sent-off – but the Arsenal star wasn’t worried about picking up an injury
Mikel Merino claims he wasn’t concerned about his own health due to “very mobile ankles and body” as he was on the receiving end of a nasty Moises Caicedo tackle – which earned the Chelsea midfielder a red card.
Caicedo missed the ball and left a late challenge on Merino, leaving the Arsenal star on the turf. The Ecuadorian originally dodged any serious punishment but referee Anthony Taylor was advised to consult the VAR monitor and, after review, sent him off.
The Chelsea star planted a straight leg into Merino’s ankle but the former Real Sociedad man claims he wasn’t fearing for his own health, owing to a very flexible body, but was in no doubt that Caicedo was going to receive his marching orders – and confirmed the pair had not spoken since.
He told Sky Sports: “I felt my ankle go all the way, but luckily, I have very mobile ankles and body so I wasn’t concerned about myself, but I knew it was a horrible challenge and a red card straight away.”
Caicedo’s dismissal made Chelsea’s task even more challenging but they were able to take the lead despite being a man down. Trevoh Chalobah headed home from a corner, but that lead only lasted 11 minutes with Merino coming up trumps up the other end, heading in a Bukayo Saka cross.
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Merino insisted his goal was a result of training such combinations on a daily basis with Saka knowing where to put the ball for the Spaniard, who has been prolific this season for club and country with ten goals this season.
He explained: “It’s something we train every day, trying to position yourself in the right areas and trying to be in the blind side of the centre backs, then trying to attack the ball at the highest point possible. When you train with each other every day, you know your strengths and weaknesses so Saka knows I’m always there. He crossed the perfect ball and it was just tapping in.”
Chelsea’s Reece James confessed Caicedo’s red card was hard to disagree with but Enzo Maresca aired his frustration with the inconsistency, pointing to a similar challenge that went unpunished recently when the Blues visited Tottenham.
“I think the red card is the red card,” he said. I struggle to understand the different ways to judge. What about Bentancur to Reece? Why is one a red card and one isn’t? I think it’s a red card tonight, it’s clear. Why the difference? Is what it is. Moises is always the same way. Top player for us. The desire from him is to try and win the game.”
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