Havertz and Ødegaard complete Arsenal’s fightback as Chelsea drop first points

Arsenal bounced back after an early setback to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates on Sunday, a result that keeps them on level terms with Manchester City atop the Premier League table.

Morgan Rogers put the visiting team in front with a volley less than two minutes into the game, which was the first time Arsenal had let in a goal this season. Against his old team, Kai Havertz scored the equalizer in the 25th minute, and then, five minutes into the second half,‌ Martin Ødegaard netted the decisive goal. Arsenal and City are each tied with nine points after three games. Chelsea, with six points, are fourth after winning their first two league games under new head coach Xabi Alonso.

Rogers was a target for Arsenal in the summer but ended up moving to Chelsea for a significant fee. Rogers struck from the edge of the box after a free-kick was only partially cleared. Arsenal replied through Havertz, who curled in a shot from outside the area following a move involving Declan Rice. Early in the second half, Christos Tzolis slipped a pass into the box; Havertz dummied, and Ødegaard finished high past Emiliano Martínez.

Chelsea remained a threat. Pedro Neto hit the post, and David Raya denied substitute Estêvão late on. Arsenal held firm to extend their long unbeaten run against their London rivals in all competitions. The champions controlled large stretches of the contest after the equaliser and limited Chelsea’s clear chances despite the visitors’ early momentum.

Mikel Arteta described the performance as exceptional. “I enjoyed every minute of it from the beginning to the end, and the beginning was tough,” he said. “The team reacted in a spectacular way. The conviction, the determination, the quality… It was beautiful. It’s an indication for us of how capable we are to perform at an even higher level than last season.” The Guardian provides his full post-match comments.

Arteta underlined Ødegaard’s level of fitness and confidence after last season’s injury disruptions and talked about how the captain is quickly forming an understanding with Havertz. For Alonso, the afternoon ended with a perfect start. While Chelsea remain firmly in the early title picture, this bruising encounter serves as a stark reminder of the gap they must bridge to unseat the defending champions.

The Sky Sports report confirms Arsenal’s dominance in expected goals and chance creation after the opening setback. Both teams vying for the title remain unbeaten so far.