GIFs and Tweets: Controversy at Stamford Bridge as Andre Marriner sends Gibbs off for Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsene Wenger’s 1000th game in charge of Arsenal witnessed a bizzare controversy as referee Andre Marriner wrongly sent off Kieran Gibbs in the first half.

Although it was Alex Oxlade Chamberlain who deliberately handled a goal-bound Eden Hazard shot in the 15th minute, Marriner chose to send off Gibbs in what can only be thought of as a case of mistaken identity.

The decision was made worse by the fact that Marriner made the decision despite taking the advice of the 4th official.

Here is the sequence of events that unfolded and the reaction to the incident on social media. The Chamberlain’s diving save:

Hazard duly converts the penalty to make it 3-0 for Chelsea.

Ox however did try to convince the referee that it was him, not Kieran Gibbs.

Before this incident itself, Arsenal got off to the worst possible start as his team went 0-2 down inside 7 mins.

Samuel Eto’o and Andre Schurrle scored the goals for Chelsea as Jose Mourinho’s side got off to a rampant start.

Oscar added a 4th goal for Chelsea to compound Arsenal’s woes going into half time.

Chelsea added two more after the Half Time break to make it 6-0 inside 71 minutes. Oscar and Salah were the scorers respectively.

More tweets from the Chelsea’s 6-0 bashing of Arsenal:

CHL 3-0 ARS (17′) – Quickest 3-0 for Chelsea in PL history. Also quickest 3-0 against Arsenal. It’s not being a happy 1000 for Wenger.

— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) March 22, 2014

BREAKING: Arsene Wenger celebrates his 1,000th game in charge. pic.twitter.com/QuTeNtZQNk

— BBC Sporf (@BBCSporf) March 22, 2014

Any minute now I expect Andre Marriner to send off Thierry Henry.

— Kai Wayne (@KaiWayne) March 22, 2014

PENALTY! Oxlade-Chamberlain makes a diving save, with HIS HAND. But Gibbs is sent off.

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 22, 2014

A very confused Kieran Gibbs at the moment Mariner shows him the red card. pic.twitter.com/tpGEmBNRa3

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 22, 2014

Surely if this idiot ref Marriner has sent off the wrong player, we can demand a replay? #CFCvAFC

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 22, 2014

Looks as if Andre Marriner has got Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in his fantasy league team.

— Now Football (@Now__Football) March 22, 2014

Fairplay to Marriner – he at least spotted the handball.

— Hardik Vyas (@itshardikvyas) March 22, 2014

Ref: “Gibbs, you’re off!” Ox: “But ref, it was me!” Ref: “Shut up Walcott, get on with the game”

— (@dshort9) March 22, 2014

Wonder if the ref would notice if we send Gibbs out with Chamberlains shirt in the second half

— Levi Taichou (@_L4WRENCE) March 22, 2014

Easy mistake… pic.twitter.com/pBpmh6EsBM

— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) March 22, 2014

Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal (’85): Arsenal’s biggest defeat under Wenger in his first 999 matches was 8-2 at Man Utd in August 2011. #Wenger1000

— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) March 22, 2014

6 – This is the fourth time that Arsenal have conceded 6+ goals in a Premier League game, two of those games have been this season. Rout.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 22, 2014

Arsenal this year 6-3 vs ManCity 5-1 vs Liverpool 6-0 vs Chelsea

— Zaaahir (@ZahirSuhaidin) March 22, 2014

Chelsea fans sing “Specialist in Failure” at Wenger. Mourinho’s work is done.

— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) March 22, 2014

Chelsea will draw one lucky fan out of the stands to score the seventh.

— Andrew Das (@AndrewDasNYT) March 22, 2014

Jose Mourinho: “I think the game was over at 2-0 after 7 minutes. We started superbly and by the time of the penalty it was done” #CHEARS

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 22, 2014