Ghana's talented defender Baba Rahman was shockingly left out of Chelsea team that won only their second league game this season against nine-man Arsenal in a fiery match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The right-back, who excelled in his debut for Chelsea in the Champions League in midweek was expected to have at least made the bench for the match at Stamford Bridge.
However, coach Jose Mourinho reverted to the starting line up that has struggled since the start of the season but managed to help them to the important win over their city rivals.
Defender Kurt Zouma - preferred to dropped captain John Terry - headed the opening goal after 53 minutes and Chelsea secured only their second win in six Premier League games this season when Eden Hazard's shot flew in off Calum Chambers late on.
This barely tells the story of a game that will leave Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger furious and frustrated in equal measure as he saw his players fall victim to the trademark and predictable wind-up tactics of Chelsea striker Diego Costa.
Arsenal defender Gabriel was sent off seconds before half-time for kicking out at Costa. It came at the end of a lengthy spat after the striker had shoved his hand into the face of Laurent Koscielny three times.
It handed the momentum to Chelsea and Arsenal's misery was complete when Santi Cazorla was given a second yellow card for a foul on Cesc Fabregas.
The victory for Chelsea without Baba in the starting line means the Ghana international must work extremely hard to be able to steal his chair under the heavy Blues table.