If not for unnecessary red cards and indiscipline, Chelsea could even be closer to Arsenal than they currently are on the Premier League table.
Chelsea had a brilliant November, which has seen them emerge as a title contender.
The Blues are 6 points behind Arsenal, 1 point behind Manchester City, and are getting ready to welcome back their best player, Cole Palmer, after the 23-year-old missed 3 months of action due to injury.
This is the best time for Chelsea to go all in and try to dislodge Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, but indiscipline has already cost them and could further hamper their chances of sustaining a Premier League title push.
Horrible Disciplinary Record This Season For Chelsea
The Stamford Bridge side have already received 7 red cards in all competitions this season.
Chelsea lost away at Manchester United after they received a red card, in a game where fans considered them favourites.
The Blues also faced the same fate at home to Brighton, losing a 1-goal lead and losing 3-1 after they received a red card at the start of the second half. Those two games represent the current gap between Chelsea and league leaders Arsenal at the moment, 6 points.
Malo Gusto also got sent off away at Nottingham Forest, despite Chelsea winning the game 3-0.
Anthony Taylor also sent off Moises Caicedo over the weekend, and he will miss important matches away to stubborn EPL sides like Leeds and Bournemouth, and also a home fixture against Everton on December 13th.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has only rested Moises Caicedo once for a Premier League game since the beginning of last season, and that happened two weeks ago against Burnley, something he admitted might never do again after seeing his side struggle in moments without the Ecuadorian.
That shows the importance of the former Brighton man to this Chelsea side. Dropping points in one or two of the matches Caicedo will miss could effectively end Chelsea’s real chance to win the Premier League in May.
The Blues have a very young and eager squad that is perhaps a little bit still immature regarding on-pitch discipline. If they don’t fix that, it could directly cost Chelsea a real chance to fight for and possibly win the Premier League title this season.
