📸 Caicedo sees red as referee throws six cards out in edgy first half | OneFootball

Third hosting first in the Premier League meant the meeting between Chelsea and Arsenal on Sunday would always be tense. And so it's been. 

Referee Anthony Taylor was a busy man in the opening moments, hoping to keep things as calm as possible with challenges flying in right from kickoff.

However, because of those scenes, there have been a stunning number of cards shown during the first half.

Matin Zubimendi received the first yellow card after less than five minutes, followed by another three being handed to Marc Cucurella, Cristhian Mosquera and Ricardo Calafiori. All four of those arrived in the opening 27 minutes. 

Then things turned even worse just after the half-hour mark, when the card finally turned red.

Moises Caicedo jumped on top of Mikel Merino's ankle, completely missing the ball. Following VAR review, Taylor sent the Ecuadorian packing, ruling the challenge excessive force. It's Chelsea's sixth red card of the season.

However, despite Taylor finally opting for a red card, the tense atmosphere continued. Only three minutes after Caicedo was sent off, Piero Hincapié was the next to pick up a booking.

Captains Reece James and Bukayo Saka were immediately called over to have a discussion in hopes of settling things down. Will the second half bring another red?

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