Chelsea Suffers Heaviest London Derby Defeat in 38 Years
On Tuesday night, Chelsea faced their most significant London derby defeat in 38 years as the Gunners ran riot at the Emirates Stadium.
Leandro Trossard set the ball rolling with an early goal in the fifth minute, while Ben White and Kai Havertz both scored doubles in the second half.
The result leaves Chelsea languishing in ninth spot in the table, a staggering 30 points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
With 11 defeats in the top flight this season, manager Mauricio Pochettino was quick to criticize his team’s performance, describing it as “unacceptable” and “soft.”
Speaking to talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface, Pochettino expressed his frustration: “It’s difficult to explain. We started the first half poorly, lacking energy and competitiveness.
Unfortunately, we continued in the same vein during the second half. Despite discussing the situation extensively at halftime, Arsenal managed to score two quick goals.”
Pochettino emphasized the lack of team cohesion: “We didn’t compete as a unit, and that’s abundantly clear. Our inconsistency stems from various reasons. Starting the game the way we did is simply not acceptable.”
Reflecting on Chelsea’s worst result in a London derby since 1986, Pochettino added, “This defeat damages not only the players but also the club and coaching staff.
It’s essential to recognize the significance of a London derby when preparing for such matches.”