Arsenal's Jack Wilshere: Cesc Fabregas 'Was Missing' During Gunners' Defeat to Chelsea

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has attempted to take credit away from Cesc Fabregas, claiming the Chelsea star only appeared at the end of the game to provide Diego Costa with the assist for the second goal during the Gunners' 2-0 defeat in the London derby on Sunday 5 October.

Having spent eight seasons at the north London club, the Spanish midfielder faced his former team for the first time since his move to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho praised his "fantastic" performance after the game, with Fabregas giving balance to his side and receiving the man of the match award following his seventh assist from seven Premier League games.

However, Wilshere suggested Fabregas and his teammate Costa were not that great in the match and just showed their quality with the game's second goal.

"We didn't really see Costa or Fabregas all game and then all of a sudden he gets an opportunity, plays a 50-yard ball to Costa and it's a goal," Wilshere said to Arsenal's official website.

"That is the difference at this level, we are playing against teams who, when you are on top, you have to make it count or they will punish you. That is what they did."

Wilshere believes the Gunners deserved a much better result, claiming they dominated the game in the midfield against Fabregas and Nemanja Matic.

"It was frustrating and we're disappointed. It was obviously better than last year's result [when Arsenal lost 6-0] but at the end of the day we still have the same outcome: no points and a disappointed team," Wilshere said.

"We felt that we did alright. In the first 20 to 25 minutes we wanted to come out and keep a clean sheet. In the big games in the past we have lost it in the first 20 minutes so we wanted to keep it tight and I thought we did that."

But the midfielder admitted Eden Hazard's performance made a difference, with the Belgium international earning and scoring a penalty after he was tripped by Laurent Koscielny following an amazing solo run into Arsenal's 18-yard box.

"Then unfortunately there was a bit of magic from Eden Hazard and they got a penalty - you can't plan for that," Wilshere said.

"I thought we did alright in the second half - we had periods of possession when it felt like we were on top and we had a few half chances, but we didn't create a clear-cut opportunity - maybe on another day we would score one of those half chances and create a few more."