Callum Hudson-Odoi says Chelsea simply 'started too slow' in their defeat to Arsenal.
The Blues were defeated 3-1 by their out-of-form London rivals on Saturday night with Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka all getting on the scoresheet before Tammy Abraham netted a consolation goal late on.
Chelsea were two down by the break and while they improved in the second half with the introduction of Hudson-Odoi and Jorginho at the break, it was too late to undo the damage done by their abject first-half display.
"I thought we let ourselves down," Hudson-Odoi admitted to Sky Sports after the game. "Really and truly, we know we can do way better. We should have had the same energy in the first half as the second half.
"I felt like we should have had the same attitude from the get-go, so we are really disappointed with ourselves.
"We started too slow. We knew it was going to be difficult. They are Arsenal and they are a good team and we wanted the three points but it was unfortunate that we didn’t.
"In the second half we tried to come out faster and we were unfortunate to concede the goal. We got back in it but we need to work harder to make sure we are better from the start."
Hudson-Odoi was also asked about the missed Jorginho penalty in stoppage time, which would have brought Chelsea to within one goal of Arsenal in the dying moments.
But the winger knows missed penalties are simply part of the game and something players must quickly get their heads around.
"Penalties are missed and you just have to bounce back from it," he added. "No matter what, our mentality has to be that we have to show the right attitude from the start."
Chelsea are next in action on Monday when they take on an in form Aston Villa.
