Sarri downplays Chelsea's title chances despite beating Arsenal

Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri watches the game closely [COURTESY]

Maurizio Sarri insisted his Chelsea side won’t be title challengers this season despite a 3-2 victory over Arsenal making it two wins from two.

The Blues went two up through Pedro and Alvaro Morata in a stunning opening half-hour, but Unai Emery’s men drew level before the break thanks to goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi.

Chelsea finally secured the points through Marcos Alonso’s late goal but Sarri dismissed his side’s hopes of topping the table in May.

He said: “We are not title challengers, not in this moment.

Chelsea players chase down Arsenal's Mkhitaryan [COURTESY]

“We have to improve in the defensive phase and I’m not talking about only the defenders.

“We did very well for 75 minutes — 15 minutes at the end of the first half was horrible.”

Unai Emery has had a difficult start as Arsene Wenger's successor at Arsenal, losing to Manchester City and now Chelsea.

But the Spaniard took encouragement from the Gunners' response to their early concessions.

"Their reaction was a very good reaction," Emery said.

Arsenal might have led at the interval, but for missed chances by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan.

He added: "The first half we created more chances to score - 2-2 is also maybe short for us because we created more chances (than Chelsea).

"I was calm when I saw my team creating chances. Goal, no goal, we need to continue working.