Chelsea's struggles this season are down to a team that remains in development, believes one former Premier League star.
Despite investing £1 billion into the current playing staff, the Blues are still floundering in mid-table in the Premier League and were this week beaten by Championship side Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
However, former Arsenal defender Bucary Sagna says Chelsea's inconsistencies are down to being a young team, who are still very much a work in progress under Mauricio Pochettino.
"I think Chelsea are loading." Sagna told Lord Ping.
"I think it will take time for them to challenge for the Premier League title because they have so many young players.
"They are a team that are more advanced than they were last year. I think it’s normal to see them struggling in certain games. They are a team that is developing at the same time, and young players will take time to adapt."
The Frenchman, who played 284 for the Gunners in a seven-year stint in North London, has also compared Chelsea's current crop to the Arsenal squad at the beginning of Mikel Arteta's reign.
"They remind me a little bit of Arsenal from three years ago. Arsenal put a lot of faith in young players, and it took time for them to gel and turn into a team that was capable of challenging for the title."