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Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has appeared to question the team selection of manager Arsene Wenger following the Gunners’ recent humiliation at Stamford Bridge.
Wenger’s side were pulled apart by league leaders Chelsea in a defeat which has severely hindered their hopes of challenging for the title.
And France international Koscielny has voiced his concerns over the team which was fielded in North London and allowed the Blues to gain a 12 point advantage in the title race.
‘I think we played some players in front of others and I think we should have played more as a team and there was space to do so. They hit us on the counter,’ Koscielny said in the aftermath of the clash.
Wenger had made some interesting team selections in the build up to the clash, opting to start Theo Walcott and the under-fire Mesut Ozil ahead of Danny Welbeck and the team’s star man Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal could only pull back a late consolation goal as Chelsea ran riot, leaving Stamford Bridge with a 3-1 score line.
Chelsea’s torment of the Gunners was best illustrated when Belgian winger Eden Hazard tore through the Arsenal defence, sending Francis Coquelin rolling to the ground before slaloming his way through three players to coolly past goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Insult was added to injury for Arsenal when former hero Cesc Fabregas came off the bench on the 84th minute to score for the Blues, neatly completing the comprehensive victory.
Asked about his side’s title chances following the clash, Koscielny was honest about the situation.
‘It will be difficult now. Mathematically, nothing is done but we know that it is going to be very complicated.
‘We need to come back to the quality of our game, our passing, movement,’ said the Frenchman.
Arsenal return to action this weekend when they host Hull at the Emirates.
While the Gunners are desperate to make amends and get back to winning ways the Tigers have reason to be confident.
Marco Silva’s side have been enjoying a fine run in 2017, recently highlighted with their emphatic 2-0 victory over Liverpool at the KCOM Stadium.
