Chelsea captain speaks bluntly: 'Arsenal is too difficult to stop'

Chelsea captain acknowledges Arsenal is extremely tough to contain following a 1-2 loss at Emirates, while highlighting set-pieces as the key factor in the London derby.

Chelsea captain Reece James openly recognized the strength of Arsenal's set-pieces after the 1-2 defeat of "The Blues" at Emirates in the 28th round of the Premier League. This loss left Chelsea disappointed in a tense London derby, while helping Arsenal re-establish a 5-point lead over Manchester City in the title race.

Arsenal took an early lead through a headed goal from a corner by William Saliba. Chelsea managed to equalize before halftime following an own goal. However, a familiar scenario repeated in the second half when Jurrien Timber scored from a corner taken by Declan Rice, securing a 2-1 victory for the home side. Both of Arsenal's goals came from set-pieces, which have become their trademark this season.

Speaking after the match, Reece James did not shy away from reality: "That's football in 2026, probably 90% of goals come from set-pieces. Arsenal is one of the best teams in the world in this aspect. They are very difficult to stop." The Chelsea captain also expressed regret that the away team had opportunities to score more but failed to capitalize.

Although they had just crushed Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the previous round, Arsenal did not completely dominate this match. They only held 42% possession and faced significant pressure in the final 30 minutes, even when the opponent was reduced to ten men after Pedro Neto's red card. In that situation, goalkeeper David Raya became a reliable last line of defense with a series of excellent saves, especially a reflex stop in stoppage time.

The hard-earned three points help Arsenal maintain their advantage in the two-horse race with Man City, even though Pep Guardiola's team still has one game in hand against Crystal Palace. Next for Arsenal is an away trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, where they aim to extend their winning streak to stay at the top during the decisive stage.