Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal's bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League is in danger of ending in disaster unless his players toughen up.
Wenger's side are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham after slumping to a 2-1 defeat at London rivals Chelsea and their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are looking bleak.
A week after waving the white flag all too quickly in a 2-0 loss against Manchester City, Arsenal once again paid the price for a nervous start.
They were two goals behind within 16 minutes at Stamford Bridge and though Theo Walcott sparked a spirited second-half fightback when he reduced the deficit, Arsenal couldn't turn their possession into an equaliser, leaving Wenger to bemoan his side's lack of killer instinct.
"We started the same as against Manchester City. We didn't go for it and didn't defend well," Wenger said.
"When you start 2-0 down in the big games it is very difficult. Chelsea played well but we gave them too much room and didn't defend tight enough.
"We had a physical problem to get going. There is a psychological ingredient in there for sure as well, because in the last two games we didn't really go for it.