John Terry singles out Chelsea captain Reece James for criticism after Arsenal defeat

John Terry has singled out Chelsea captain Reece James for criticism in the wake of Sunday’s defeat against Arsenal.

Xabi Alonso’s new-look side were hoping to cement their status as potential title challengers at the home of the reigning champions.

The Blues made a positive start, racing into an early lead through Morgan Rogers’, but Arsenal’s class and experience ultimately told and the Gunners ran out convincing 2-1 winners.

While Terry saw many positives in defeat, he suggested a lack of intensity and concentration contributed to the mistakes that were committed in the build-up to Kai Havertz’s equaliser.

‘Reece just needs to drop in and close the space because Havertz then has to go down the outside on his weaker foot, he came in on his left foot and got the shot off because there was a gap and space,’ said Terry on his YouTube channel.

The club legend also thought his old team missed a trick during the early exchanges when Emi Martinez received a kick to the head from Gabriel Magalhaes.

No disciplinary action was taken against the Arsenal defender, but Terry believes the VAR might have intervened had Chelesa’s leadership group, such as it is, applied more pressure to the match officials after seeing their goalkeeper writhing around in apparent pain.

‘I think we missed a big opportunity to get Gabriel sent off,’ he added.

‘I think it was Hato and Joao Pedro closest, as soon as I see my goalkeeper reacting like that I’m surrounding the ref saying ‘he’s just been kicked in the f’ing head ref’ put a bit of pressure on the ref.

‘I know we don’t really want to be doing that but we’re here to win 3 points and challenge for the league.’

‘I think we need to be better at dark arts, they’re big, Arsenal are the best at it.’

Whether haranguing the officials would have made a difference to Gabriel’s fate remains highly doubtful, however, with former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher suggesting the Brazil international was not guilty of violent conduct.

‘They’re all on the floor,’ Gallagher told Sky Sports. ‘There’s a big tangle. He definitely goes to kick the ball and he gets the ball, his foot actually gets the ball.

‘That’s why it pops out of Martinez’s hands. Martinez grabs the ball, [Gabriel] goes to kick, gets the ball. Then his foot goes up and catches Martinez in the head.”

Asked whether the ball was in both hands when Gabriel then kicked Martinez, Gallagher added: ‘It was but he’s gone to kick the ball because there’s such a tangle. He’s gone to get it.

‘I don’t think there’s any malice whatsoever in it.’