‘He’s one of our own,’ the Chelsea fans sang in jest as Arsenal’s David Luiz made an early exit from Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
It was not the homecoming the Brazilian would’ve imagined – booed for 26 minutes and then sent off for conceding a penalty.
Chelsea fans got exactly what they wanted on Tuesday night
Luiz was the fall guy after a calamitous error from Shkodran Mustafi, forced to bring Tammy Abraham down following the German’s shoddy back-pass.
The Chelsea fans roared in delight as the red card was brandished in the latest episode of the most turbulent relationship between player and club in recent memory.
But last time Luiz left the Blues and returned to Stamford Bridge, it was a totally different story.
Let’s recap: Luiz joined the Blues from Benfica in 2011 and helped the club to their first ever Champions League triumph by netting his penalty in the 2012 final against Bayern Munich. Chelsea status: legend.
He then left for PSG in 2014 and celebrated excessively in front of the Chelsea fans after scoring a last minute equaliser for the French club in the 2015 Champions League round of 16. Chelsea status: villain.
It was very different last time Luiz left Chelsea and returned to Stamford Bridge
But the journey was only just beginning. Luiz completed a shock return to the Blues in 2016 and starred as the club stormed to the Premier League title under Antonio Conte. Chelsea status: legend again.
And just when everything appeared rosy between Luiz and Chelsea, what does he do? Joins the club’s arch London rivals on deadline day.
Chelsea fans will feel like they got the last laugh with his sending off on Tuesday night, but if history is anything to go by, Luiz will be back at Stamford Bridge in some shape or form to write the next chapter in this remarkable story.