Return to Stamford Bridge: untoward sending-off

Gabriel was the first one to leave the pitch at the end of the first half, to be followed by Cazorla in the 79th minute. “The first red card was crucial as it caused Chelsea to outnumber us for the entire duration of the second half—and they used it well,” said Petr.

“We played quite well during the first half. We had the game more or less under control and would not let the Blues create goal opportunities. But playing with ten men after the interval wasn’t easy. The moment we started to get back on our feet despite our disadvantage, the second red card came, as did the unfortunate second goal by Arsenal,” Petr evaluated the game.

He was nevertheless touched by the Chelsea fans’ reception. “I’d like to thank them, the reception was fantastic. It was equally great to see my old teammates. I greeted everyone and wished them good luck,” Petr stated.

“It’s too bad we didn’t get a single point out of this, but the season’s long yet. We will focus on the coming up games all the more,” he added.