Paul Merson has explained that Chelsea's title challenge only fell apart after 'unstoppable' duo Ben Chilwell and Reece James suffered their respective long-term injuries.
Both full-backs - who are integral to how Thomas Tuchel sets his team up - were in fantastic form before their issues. James has recovered to play a part in the final quarter of the Blues' campaign, but Chilwell won't be available until the beginning of the 2022/23 season at the earliest.
As Merson explained on Wednesday, without the pair, Chelsea didn't have the required squad depth to keep in touch with Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
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"Thomas Tuchel has done an amazing job at Chelsea, especially with everything that has gone on off the pitch," he wrote in his Sky Sports column. "They are 12 points behind the leader's Man City with a game in hand, but it all went a bit pear-shaped for them when Reece James and Ben Chilwell got injured within a week or two of each other.
"They were flying at that time. They were unstoppable when those two were playing, ripping through teams. You've got to look at that when you look at their failed title bid. It was a big moment losing those two players."
Tuchel will be doing everything in his power to secure a third-place finish and win the FA Cup before the season is out, but Merson continued by explaining that the Blues face a difficult match-up against Arsenal tonight as the Gunners need to win to keep their top-four hopes alive.
"It can be a tricky night for Chelsea," he added. "It's a bigger football match for Arsenal. If they win at Stamford Bridge, they can go joint-fourth and put themselves right back in the mix for Champions League qualification.
"It's a massive game, and it is followed by another against Man Utd at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Two wins, and they are right back in it. Man Utd would be out, and Spurs also have to play Liverpool still. It can change very quickly.
"Arsenal just cannot afford to get beat at Chelsea. They have to get a result."
