Arsenal show champions’ authority against Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea

Arsenal produced a champions’ performance against Chelsea, overcoming an early deficit to win 2-1 and underline their status as the Premier League team to beat. Kai Havertz led the response, while Martin Odegaard scored the winner.

Chelsea struck after only a minute. Morgan Rogers, who had scored or assisted in each of the opening three league rounds, met a volley from the edge of the area that David Raya could not stop. Arsenal then settled into a patient attack, driven by Havertz.

The hosts briefly thought they had equalized when Riccardo Calafiori scored after a series of rebounds, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Havertz soon broke Chelsea’s resistance with a shot from the edge of the area that beat the goalkeeper at the near post.

Havertz also shaped the decisive second goal without touching the ball. He lifted his foot over Christos Tzolis’s low pass, allowing the unmarked Odegaard to receive it and fire past the Argentine goalkeeper. The move reinforced the article’s argument that Arsenal do not need another striker if Havertz remains fit.

Arsenal had further chances on the counter, several of which Viktor Gyökeres missed. Chelsea came close to leveling through Estevao, but Raya produced an outstanding one-handed save. Arsenal moved level with Manchester City on nine points, although with an inferior goal difference. Chelsea stayed fourth on six points.