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Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 and maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.
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Morgan Rogers stunned the champions by opening the scoring after just 77 seconds.
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Kai Havertz equalised against his former club before Martin Odegaard completed Arsenal’s comeback five minutes after half-time.
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The victory keeps Arsenal level with Manchester City on nine points after three matches.
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Chelsea suffered their first defeat of the season despite making a fast start and threatening Arsenal at the Emirates.
September 06, (THEWILL) — Arsenal showed the resilience of champions as they recovered from an early Chelsea shock to secure a 2-1 victory in a pulsating London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
The visitors needed just 77 seconds to take the lead through Morgan Rogers, but Arsenal gradually turned the contest around. Kai Havertz brought the champions level before Martin Odegaard completed the comeback early in the second half.
The result gives Mikel Arteta’s side three wins from three and keeps Arsenal level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League on nine points. Chelsea, meanwhile, remain on six points after suffering their first defeat of the campaign.
Chelsea Deliver Early Shock
Chelsea made the perfect start when Rogers struck after only 77 seconds.
A Reece James free-kick confused the Arsenal penalty area before the ball fell to Rogers on the edge of the box. The forward adjusted quickly and fired a volley beyond David Raya.
The goal carried an additional storyline given Arsenal’s previous interest in Rogers before Chelsea secured his signature during the summer.
Arsenal responded immediately and thought they had levelled when Riccardo Calafiori found the net following a goalmouth scramble. However, VAR intervened, and the effort was ruled out for offside.
Rather than allowing the setback to disrupt their rhythm, Arsenal continued to push forward.
Havertz Punishes Former Club
The equaliser eventually arrived in the 25th minute.
Havertz produced a composed finish to bring Arsenal level against the club he left for the Gunners. It was another important contribution from the German in a fixture that has become particularly significant in his Arsenal career.
With the score level, Arsenal began to take greater control of the match, although Chelsea remained dangerous whenever they found opportunities to attack in transition.
The visitors had enough moments to believe they could regain the lead, but Arsenal went into half-time with the momentum increasingly on their side.
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Odegaard Completes the Turnaround
Arsenal needed only five minutes of the second half to complete their comeback.
Odegaard put the hosts ahead in the 50th minute after a well-worked attacking move, giving Chelsea a different problem to solve as Arsenal began protecting their advantage.
The goal reflected the quality Arsenal had gradually brought into the contest after their difficult opening.
Chelsea now had to chase the game, but Arsenal were increasingly comfortable controlling possession and managing the tempo.
The champions also continued to threaten at the other end, preventing Chelsea from committing completely forward without leaving themselves exposed.
Chelsea Push for an Equaliser
Chelsea refused to surrender.
Xabi Alonso’s side continued to search for openings as the second half progressed, with Arsenal forced to defend their narrow advantage during the closing stages.
The visitors came close to forcing a dramatic equaliser late on when substitute Estêvão tested Raya, but the Arsenal goalkeeper produced an important save to preserve his side’s lead.
Arsenal ultimately saw out the remaining minutes to secure a victory that demanded considerably more from them than their opening two league matches.
Arsenal Pass Another Early Test
For Arteta, the significance of the victory extends beyond the three points.
Arsenal were forced to respond to an almost immediate setback against a Chelsea side that arrived at the Emirates unbeaten. Instead of losing their composure, the champions gradually imposed themselves and found a way to turn the game around.
Their 2-1 victory also extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run against Chelsea to 12 matches.
Chelsea will have plenty to take from the performance despite the defeat. Their early intensity unsettled Arsenal, while their willingness to keep attacking after falling behind showed that Alonso’s side remain capable of competing with the league’s strongest teams.
But Arsenal remain the team with the perfect record.
Three matches, three victories and nine points.
Manchester City have matched that start, setting up an early battle at the top of the table, but Arsenal have already demonstrated that even when they are punched early, they have the quality and composure to fight back.
That could prove just as important as the goals themselves when the title race eventually begins to take shape.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
