Petr Cech: Arsenal have to win every game left if we want to have a hope of catching Chelsea

Petr Cech admitted Arsenal must win almost all their remaining games to even have a hope of catching Chelsea at the top of the table.

Even such a remarkable run might not be enough for the Gunners to catch Chelsea, who built a commanding 12 point lead over their London rivals by easing to a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal could slip to fourth if Manchester City win on Sunday and Arsene Wenger conceded that the title was now Chelsea’s to lose. Cech admitted that to even maintain a hope of staying in the race they couldn’t afford to drop further points.

“We are still mathematically in but obviously we are a long way behind,” Cech said. “We need to make sure that we win our next games and we need to now win pretty much every game if we want to hope, so let’s see how we go.”

Needing at least a draw to stay in the title race but knowing a win would breathe new life into their chase, Arsenal started the first half brightly at Stamford Bridge, pressing Chelsea high up the field and going close when a curling Alex Iwobi effort was deflected just wide.

However Arsenal slipped behind in contentious fashion as Marcos Alonso headed home the rebound from a Diego Costa effort, elbowing Hector Bellerin in the process. The Spanish full-back, crucial to Arsene Wenger’s gameplan in attack and defence, was withdrawn with concussion and the visitors were no less rattled.

Chelsea picked off Arsenal as they chased parity, Eden Hazard scoring a virtuoso second before former Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas was gifted the third by Cech, tapping home after the goalkeeper had miscued a clearance.

Olivier Giroud netted a consolation and Cech suggested that he felt a 3-1 result was not entirely representative of the balance of the contest.

“I thought that first half we did pretty well, but obviously they had their first chance and they managed to tap in the rebound which gave them confidence and this is what they needed because they could close the space and wait for the counter-attack. They are dangerous on the counter-attack, but we didn’t allow them to have many chances.

“Second half we felt that we were still in the game, that we could come out second half and score the equaliser and then to see what we can do. Unfortunately the next goal came for them, and then obviously the third one.

“I gifted them the third one. It’s a shame.”