Antonio Conte admits Chelsea 'are a great team only on paper, not on the pitch' after Arsenal defeat 

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One point from three Premier League games and another defensive meltdown by his Chelsea team prompted Antonio Conte to deliver a warning to his players about living on their reputations.

'We are a great team only on paper, not on the pitch,' said Conte. 'I prefer to be a great team not only on paper but also on the pitch. The pitch is the truth. The pitch speaks.

'The pitch is the most important thing for us: not the words, not on paper. We must work to change this. We must work a lot.

Antonio Conte was left frustrated after watching his side lose 3-0 away to Arsenal

'Last season was a bad season. We must have last season present in our mind to not repeat the mistakes. We must reflect a lot to find very soon the right way.

'We know there are many difficulties. We have not got the balance and now is the moment to consider everything. It is incredible to concede three goals.'

Chelsea were 2-0 down inside a quarter of an hour - the first was an absolute gift for Alexis Sanchez from Gary Cahill – and these dreadful starts are becoming a habit.

Against Liverpool, Conte's team were two down in 36 minutes and at Leicester in the EFL Cup two down in 34 minutes before fighting back to win in extra-time.

A mistake by Chelsea's Gary Cahill allowed Alexis Sanchez in to take the lead for Arsenal

Cahill's disappointment was clear to see during the Premier League match on Saturday

Thirteen goals have been conceded in eight games and seven in three without John Terry although praying for the fitness of a 35-year-old is not a feasible long-term plan.

Conte refused to blame Cahill. 'We must all take responsibility,' he said, but it is the Italian manager who must find a solution.

Chelsea's defenders have not reacted well to his instructions and, early in the second-half, the manager switched to a back-three, always his preferred system when in charge of both Juventus and Italy.

By this point, Arsenal had the game won and were over-elaborating in search of a fourth.

Chelsea boss Conte refused to blame Cahill and insisted that 'we must all take responsibility 

Cesc Fabregas, having convinced Conte to select him from the start after two goals in the EFL Cup at Leicester, was the player to make way for the tactical switch.

Arsenal supporters celebrated his misfortune. Fabregas had contributed very little and yet he was not alone in the Chelsea ranks. 

They did not muster a shot on target until the 83rd minute and they are in the grip of panic at the back. N'Golo Kante is not the irresistible force he was at Leicester last season, seemingly restricted by his role in front of the centre-halves.

In goal, Thibaut Courtois, having won his power struggle with Petr Cech and coach Christophe Lollichon, still pines publicly for a move to Spain and fails to produce saves to justify the trouble he causes.

Thaibaut Courtois still wants a move to Spain and he failed to produce on Saturday

'I have to solve the situation,' said Conte. 'The situation is that, every game, we concede minimum two goals. Two at the back, three at the back, four at the back, I don't care. I just have to solve this.

'We must find some continuity. We must reflect on this. Two defeats in two big games against Liverpool and Arsenal. For this reason, we must understand the moment and understand we need to work a lot to improve and change our story.'