Thomas Tuchel explains decision to drag off Chelsea star during Arsenal loss

Thomas Tuchel has explained Andreas Christensen was subbed off at half-time during Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday night due to injury rather than an under-par performance.

The Gunners beat the Blues 4-2 at Stamford Bridge, with Christensen directly at fault for the opening goal of the game.

The Danish defender attempted to pass back to Edouard Mendy, but instead the ball bounced invitingly to Eddie Nketiah, allowing the Arsenal striker to move in on goal and calmly place his shot past the Chelsea keeper.

The home side conceded again before the break, courtesy of Emile Smith Rowe finishing an excellent counter-attack, before Christensen was replaced by Thiago Silva, but the experienced Brazilian was powerless to prevent Nketiah from scoring again before a late Bukayo Saka penalty completed the rout.

After the match, Tuchel clarified why Christensen was subbed, explaining: ‘He said he cannot continue, so I think he had some problems. I don’t take a player out because he makes one mistake.

‘To say the pitch is difficult to play here it maybe sounds like an excuse, but it is a very, very difficult pitch that we have here. It’s not in our favour. The ball bounces very awkwardly in front of Andreas when he wants to play this ball.

‘But still, we had the same mistake against Real Madrid that cost us the next round of the Champions League, and this one cost us the next match. I can’t remember when we got two goals like this.’

Under Tuchel, Chelsea has become renowned for their defensive prowess, but 13 goals conceded in their last six games in all competitions has raised questions about the side’s ability to keep the goals out, especially now that star centre-back Antonio Rudiger has suffered a groin injury.

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