Thomas Tuchel identifies reason Arsenal defeated Chelsea

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has blamed himdelf for the defeat the Blues suffered in the hands of Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday

The west London club would have all but confirmed a Champions League place next season with a win but were beaten by Emile Smith Rowe’s first-half strike.

Jorginho fluffed a backpass to Kepa who did well to claw the misplaced pass off the line but it only went as far as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who laid it off to the youngster who rolled it in.

Despite significant pressure from the West Londoners – particularly towards the end of the game – the Gunners held on for a precious win to keep their own Europa League hopes alive.

And afterwards, Tuchel was quick to blame himself for the result.

He said: “I am not happy with my line-up. There were too many changes and I should not have done it like this.

“It was something in particular but I don’t want to tell you.”

Beforehand, Tuchel said: “It is totally our fault. I think we lost the game, it is totally our responsibility. We had huge chances, we more or less made an own goal, a total gift.

“Overall we were not sharp enough, we could not put up the same intensity as energy as usual. It is on me.

“I think it was maybe too many changes from the last match and I take full responsibility for that. Maybe it is the last wake-up call for us.

“I felt it a little bit coming yesterday in training and I am a bit unlucky that it is proven today on the pitch.

“I did not feel us in the same way – sharp, intensity like in the last game.”