Thomas Tuchel’s home side were bereft of quality in the final third as they succumbed to only a third defeat in their 26 matches in all competitions.
Midfielder Jorginho was guilty of a woefully misplaced back-pass that ended with Gunners youngster Smith-Rowe slotting home early in the first half at Stamford Bridge.
After the game, When asked whether Jorginho should have passed it wide of the post, Thomas Tuchel responded: “The rule is to always pass the ball to the right foot of Kepa. This is the rule.
“No matter if it’s in the goal or sideways, pass it to the right foot of Kepa.”
The Blues remain in fourth place, but their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish is now on a knife edge.
They sit six points clear of fifth placed West Ham, who have a game in hand, and seven ahead of sixth placed Liverpool, who could be the biggest threat with two games in hand.
Chelsea’s tepid display was hardly ideal preparation for their attempt to win the first trophy of Tuchel’s reign in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Leicester at Wembley.
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Beaten for the first time in six league games, Chelsea’s final two top-flight matches against the Foxes and Aston Villa next week now take on extra significance. That will deny Tuchel the chance to rest players before the Champions League final against Manchester City on May 29.
Eighth-placed Arsenal’s first league double over Chelsea since 2003-04 was a rare bright spot in a turbulent season.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is fighting to persuade the Arsenal hierarchy to keep faith with him after their lacklustre Europa League semi-final exit against Villarreal, EKO HOT BLOG gathered.
The Spaniard insists his side “have made progress in many areas” this season, even though they are likely to miss out on European football for the first time since 1995-96.
Against that troubled backdrop, beating in-form Chelsea was evidence that Arteta may yet be able to revive Arsenal’s dwindling fortunes.
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