Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has admitted that his side need to find a way to "take a step forward" against the best teams in the Premier League.

The Blues went into Sunday's London derby with Arsenal looking for the victory that would have taken them to within three points of their second-placed hosts.

Instead, Maresca witnessed his side succumb to a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in a game where his team barely laid a glove on Mikel Arteta's side.

Despite having 60% of possession, Chelsea only came close to finding the back of the net when Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya almost allowed a tame Marc Cucurella to go through his hands and into the back of the net.

"We can attack better as a group"

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Maresca was quick to defend his players as individuals, yet admitted that there is a need to perform better in the final third at a time when he has been missing key figures in the final third.

As quoted by football.london, the Italian said: "It's a huge difference if you think three players were not there for us. Two of them have been out for a long time.

"Today, we are the second or the third best attacking team in the league. We are doing well with some players but we could do better without the injured players.

He added: "The first game against Arsenal and today's game, I don't see a big difference between us and them. Since I arrived, I've had the feeling we are on the right path and we are very close. We need a step forward to compete in these kinds of games.

"It's not easy to create chances against them. When you have important players injured but I think Jadon [Sancho] did quite well, Christo [Nkunku] also. I don't have a feeling they could do something better. For sure, we can attack better as a group."

Maresca hopeful over Palmer injury

Despite his recent poor form, Cole Palmer was another notable absentee for Chelsea, a consequence of a hamstring injury sustained on Saturday.

Speaking on the issue, Maresca said: "It was from yesterday, a muscle problem. We don't wish a player to be injured but in Cole's moment, it could be good to give him a rest.

"He needs a scan. The scan is planned for Monday, tomorrow. I hope so [he will be back after the international break] but we will have to see. It's a muscle problem."

Chelsea do not return to action until April 3 when they play host to Tottenham Hotspur, the first of three games across the period of a week with a trip to Brentford to come three days later.

On the following Thursday, the West Londoners square off versus Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final tie.