Granit Xhaka has revealed that the Arsenal players were shell-shocked following their Europa League humiliation - and manager Unai Emery said nothing in the aftermath of the defeat.
The competition offered the Gunners a chance to secure Champions League football for next season, with Xhaka and his team-mates knowing a win over Chelsea in the final would be enough.
However, Eden Hazard's brace complemented goals from Olivier Giroud and Pedro at the sparsely-filled Baku Olympic Stadium to make Alex Iwobi's stunning strike a mere footnote in a 4-1 Chelsea win.
It was a galling end to Unai Emery's first season in charge, leaving Arsenal facing another arduous season in the Europa League.
And Switzerland midfielder Xhaka has opened up on how gutted the players were, having suffered an embarrassing defeat by their Premier League rivals.
“Him (Emery), the players, nobody speaks in the dressing room,” said Xhaka.
When asked why Emery had remained silent, he added: “I don’t know. He was disappointed of course.
“I think we know what we played. We know we lost the game. It is not about shouting. It is not about shouting everything if we lose.
“You can say a lot now but it is not the time to explain why and what happens. I think it was a big chance for us and we don’t take it.”
Xhaka is also disappointed to be facing another painful season in the Europa League after Arsenal's humiliating final loss.
Asked if it was painful to be in the competition again, Arsenal midfielder Xhaka said: "Yeah, of course because I think we had a good season - if you take off the five last games in the Premier League.
"We had a second chance to come back and go to the Champions League but if you don't take your chances, you will stay in the Europa League.
"You can say a lot now but it is not the time to explain why and what happens. We lost today. I don't want to speak about the last five weeks or 10 weeks.
"I think today was a big chance for us, we didn't take it."
