Bacary Sagna has admitted Arsenal struggled to face off against Chelsea and other elite teams in the Premier League during his time at the Emirates Stadium.
Having joined the Gunners in 2007, Sagna went on to make 284 appearances over the next seven years mainly as a right-back.
However despite being a regular top four side qualifying for the Champions League during this period, Arsenal were seldom in a Premier League title race and lifted just one FA Cup in that time which came in Sagna's final season.
The former France international believes despite the talents available at the Emirates Arsene Wenger's side saw Chelsea as a superior team, with his final game against them for the club even resulting in a 6-0 hammering at Stamford Bridge.