Reigning champions Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with Martin Odegaard’s 50th-minute winner settling the season’s first genuine title-race fixture. The result handed Xabi Alonso his first defeat since taking charge of Chelsea, after Kai Havertz had cancelled out Morgan Rogers’ early opener.
A Shock Start, Then a Response
Rogers, Chelsea’s £117 million record signing from Aston Villa, needed just 77 seconds to put the visitors ahead, according to Sky Sports. It was the fastest possible reminder of why Chelsea paid a British transfer record for him back in July.
Arsenal thought they had levelled soon after through Riccardo Calafiori, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up. Havertz eventually did find the equaliser in the 25th minute with a close-range drive.
Chelsea almost regained the lead before the break. Rogers curled an effort wide and Pedro Neto struck the woodwork, but Arsenal reached half-time level at 1-1.
What the Result Means
Odegaard settled it five minutes into the second half, finishing off a slick team move to make it 2-1. David Raya then denied Estevao with a fingertip save in the 89th minute to protect the lead.
The win keeps Arsenal unbeaten after three Premier League games and has now produced two clean sheets in three matches, with only Rogers’ goal breaching their defence all season. According to Yahoo Sports, it is the first time Arsenal have won their opening three league games while conceding just once since their unbeaten 2003-04 campaign.
Arsenal sit on 9 points, level with Manchester City, though City stay top on goals scored. It is a defensive record built despite William Saliba not yet playing a minute this season, a sign of the squad depth behind Arteta’s title defence.
Chelsea drop to 6 points from three matches. The result also underlines how much Alonso’s midfield is still adjusting without Enzo Fernandez, sold to Manchester City for £125 million on deadline day, and without the injured Moises Caicedo, with Romeo Lavia deployed in his place.
Alonso Faces a First Setback
Xabi Alonso said Chelsea must address their defensive issues after conceding twice inside a spell where the visitors lost control of midfield. “After we scored, there were 15 to 20 minutes where we had to defend too much and we were struggling a bit to get control,” he said, according to ESPN.
Mikel Arteta was measured rather than triumphant afterwards. “We are very happy and we need to continue to raise the bar,” he said, according to Yahoo Sports.
Havertz added that Arsenal deserved the win over the course of the 90 minutes, calling it satisfying to beat a London rival at home despite how tight the scoreline finished.
Next Up for Both Sides
Arsenal turn to their Champions League opener once the September international break ends, while Chelsea look to respond domestically before their own European campaign begins. Alonso’s rebuilding job at Stamford Bridge now faces its first real test of adversity, and how Chelsea respond in their next league fixture will say a lot about how quickly this defeat is put behind them.
Sources:
Sky Sports
ESPN
Yahoo Sports