Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he is taking full responsibility for the Gunners' "nightmare" defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

The Blues hammered Wenger's side 6-0 at Stamford Bridge, and Wenger subsequently skipped his post-match media duties before cancelling his Monday press conference.

However, the Frenchman has since released an email to the club's fans, and he accepted the blame for the heavy reverse.

It read: "The game at Stamford Bridge was a nightmare for us and I take full responsibility for it. The players are deeply disappointed, as we all are. We have to think deeply about it because it is not the first time it has happened in this kind of game. It all went wrong and we failed completely on Saturday because we did not turn up with a performance.

"We felt we prepared properly, but we did not produce what we can, so it is puzzling. After 20 minutes, the game was over and it became a long afternoon. That is the most disappointing thing, that we were never in the game. It is puzzling because we were knocked over basically without feeling we had been in the match.

"Now we have to win our next game. That is what we have to focus on. It's vital that we show character and respond in the right manner on Tuesday night against Swansea City. We are all determined to put this performance behind us and respond."

The Gunners are currently fourth in the Premier League.