Maresca says ‘outstanding’ Chelsea were ‘better than Arsenal’ before Caicedo red card | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca says his Chelsea players were “outstanding” in their 1-1 draw with league leaders Arsenal.

The Blues had Moises Caicedo sent off in the first half but took the lead through Trevoh Chalobah, before Mikel Merino equalised.

“I think sometimes you have to be happy even with one point,” Maresca said after the game,

“11 v 11 I think we were a better team than them. We managed the game, we controlled the game, we created chances and we didn’t concede anything.

“Then the red card changed the dynamic a little bit but the way the players dealt with that was outstanding.

“I told them (his players) at half time that we need to double the effort and they were outstanding.”

Chelsea’s draw with Arsenal comes after beating Barcelona in the Champions League but Maresca says it is still too early to say his side are title contenders.

“Sometimes I think I’m a little bit boring but I have to say again, if in February and March we are where we are now, we’re going to be (competing) for the title,” he said.

“But we are still in the end of November. Now we have Leeds away on Wednesday. That is a very difficult game so you have to be there every time.

“But for sure, Arsenal tonight, Barcelona the other day, Liverpool, PSG or these kind of games, for sure they give players the confidence to grow and to believe.”