Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has weighed in on two controversial incidents from Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Chelsea were reduced to ten men early in the first half after Moises Caicedo’s tackle on Mikel Merino was deemed reckless. Despite this setback, Enzo Maresca’s side battled hard. Trevoh Chalobah gave Chelsea the lead with a towering header, but Merino later equalized for Arsenal, denying the visitors a straightforward victory.
At first, Chalobah’s goal raised no concerns. However, replay angles suggested a potential offside involving teammate Enzo Fernandez. Hackett clarified the situation, noting that Fernandez’s position did not interfere with play. He told Football Insider:
“There is a lot of debate about Enzo Fernandez and his offside position. You cannot be offside from a corner kick. Fernandez may be in an offside position, but he does not interfere with the goalkeeper or any other player, so the goal stands.”
Hackett also reviewed a separate incident involving Piero Hincapie, who appeared to strike Chalobah with an elbow. After analysis, Hackett agreed with referee Anthony Taylor’s on-field decision, stating it was a yellow card offense rather than a red.
While Arsenal managed to keep all 11 players on the pitch, their six yellow cards in the match have earned them a £25,000 fine from the FA. This marks a significant jump in their rankings for the most bookings in the 2025/26 Premier League season
