Phil Haigh
Published March 1, 2026 7:56pm
Updated March 1, 2026 7:56pm
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Reece James knows Chelsea must fix a problem to progress (Picture: Getty Images)
After Chelsea suffered yet another red card in defeat to Arsenal, captain Reece James admitted the Blues have a discipline issue.
The Gunners went five points clear at the top of the Premier League again after a 2-1 victory over the Blues at the Emirates.
William Saliba and Jurrien Timber scored the goals for the home team, either side of a Piero Hincapie own goal just before half-time.
It was a tight game with all three goals coming from corners and not a great deal of creativity from open play on either side.
Chelsea were left disappointed to leave with nothing, but only have themselves to blame as they played the last 20 minutes with 10 men, thanks to Pedro Neto’s red card.
The winger lunged in on Gabriel Martinelli to earn himself a second yellow and pick up Chelsea’s seventh red card in the Premier League this season and ninth in all competitions.
It is a really poor disciplinary record and James admits it is a problem which the Blues must solve.
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Pedro Neto is SENT OFF after a challenge on Gabriel Martinelli! 🟥 pic.twitter.com/WtlPgwZQ2V
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 1, 2026
‘We’ve spoken about it, it’s come up a number of times, every time it’s someone different, not the same player,’ James told Sky Sports.
‘Internally we need to review and keep improving. It’s a problem, we are playing in the toughest league in the world, you play against top or bottom 11 v 11 it’s tough, 11 v 10 is even harder no matter who you are playing.
‘I have no doubt in the team and staff, it didn’t go our way today but we need to regroup and go again.’
Pedro Neto was shown a second yellow for scything down Gabriel Martinelli (Picture: Getty Images)
Blues boss Liam Rosenior was frustrated and disappointed with the result, which was his third defeat to Arsenal since taking over at Stamford Bridge in January.
On Chelsea’s red card issues, the manager said: ‘It is a difficult things to put your finger on. We get paid to try and win games of football.
‘If you don’t think we have tried to address that it is crazy. We are trying to address it.
‘Sometimes you have to learn from consequence and the pain.
Neto raged with referee Darren England after his red card (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I felt the consequence of the pain of losing points against Leeds and Burnley when 2-0 up would switch us on against a very good set-play team.
‘It hasn’t and that has been the most frustrating thing about this afternoon. We come off the pitch with no points.
‘I don’t want to talk about all the good things we did in the game – of which there was a lot – when we haven’t got anything from the game. It is a really frustrating one today.’
Liam Rosenior suffered his third loss to Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)
He added: ‘In the end it is a bitterly disappointing day because we came here with a game plan we felt we could execute.
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‘Again we haven’t because we haven’t had good discipline and we conceded two goals from set-plays.’
Chelsea are left sixth in the Premier League on a bad day for them as Manchester United climbed to third with a win over Crystal Palace.
The Blues are now three points behind Liverpool in fifth and six behind Aston Villa in fourth.
Arsenal, in contrast, are flying high at the top of the table, five points clear again, although second-placed Manchester City have a game in hand.
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