Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted that his team may be a little too reliant on Cole Palmer.

The attacking midfielder was absent from the team's 5-0 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Palmer, who has been the team's main goalscorer and creator all season, was a big loss in the middle of the park.

Post-game, Pochettino attempted to defend his players, stating: “Maybe with him, the team today, maybe it could be the same situation. But of course, Palmer is doing well for us. He is the only player we have, a playmaker who links all the lines in the team. When you miss a player like this, it is not easy to replace.

"But I think it was a great opportunity to step up for different players. It's true, we didn't compete. I cannot blame the players. We are showing this inconsistency, that is why we are where we are.

"When we have bad days, we are so bad. When we are good, we are capable of everything. That is another thing we need to be aware of, that we need to increase for the future."