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Great performance from Havertz today, anyone who doubts how important he is to Arsenal’s attack is mad.
Lewis
Image source, Getty ImagesReigning champions Arsenal came from behind to beat big-spending Chelsea in a pulsating London derby at Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea stunned the home fans by taking a second-minute lead through £117m summer signing Morgan Rogers' volley after the Gunners failed to clear Reece James' free-kick.
That was the first goal Mikel Arteta's side have conceded this season.
Despite their flying start, Chelsea had not kept a clean sheet in their previous 18 Premier League games and Xabi Alonso's side were forced to withstand wave after wave of Arsenal pressure.
Emiliano Martinez denied Bukayo Saka, while Jorrel Hato and Wesley Fofana each made crucial blocks before the Gunners levelled in the 25th-minute after former Chelsea forward Kai Havertz beat Martinez at his near post with a well-placed finish.
In a high-quality match, Chelsea - who spent close to £350m in the summer transfer window - came within a whisker of retaking the lead.
After captain James had forced David Raya into a save from outside the box, Pedro Neto hit the post after a wonderful solo run before Martin Odegaard settled it in the 50th minute.
The Arsenal captain beat Martinez after Havertz's clever dummy, the Norwegian's second goal in three Premier League games.
Chelsea substitute Estevao thought he had equalised right at the end of the game but Raya produced a brilliant finger-tip save as the Blues lost for the fifth straight league game at Emirates Stadium.
No new striker, no worries - Havertz and Odegaard torment Chelsea
Two right-backs in midfield - are Chelsea short despite £349m spent?
Odegaard and Saka star - player ratings for Arsenal v Chelsea
This was Arsenal's first major test against rivals who had also won their opening two matches, and they passed it after exposing Chelsea's defensive vulnerabilities.
Along with Manchester City, the Gunners are one of only two teams to have a 100% winning record after three games - but their latest success came after an unexpected setback.
Arsenal's first league title for 22 years was built on their stubborn defence and there will be questions about how they conceded so early against their London rivals.
Yet the spirit and character that propelled them towards the Premier League crown last season remains strong after they were made to dig deep before celebrating an eighth straight Premier League win stretching back to last season.
Arsenal's failure to bring in an elite forward during the transfer window has led to questions, yet it was two familiar faces whose goals turned it around for Arteta's side in the shape of Havertz and Odegaard.
Meanwhile, it was a solid first start in red and white for Ezri Konsa, whose £55m arrival from Aston Villa has gone under the radar, as Arsenal signed off with three points before the start of their Champions League campaign away to Napoli on Wednesday.
Chelsea finished in 10th place, a whopping 33 points behind Arsenal last season.
While Alonso's side still have plenty of catching up to do, there was evidence in this game they will compete towards the top end of the table this time.
Alonso, however, needs to get on top of his side's defensive frailties.
While Chelsea have goals in them this season in the shape of Rogers - who has scored two and provided one assist in his first three league appearances for his new club - Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, they also have holes at the back.
Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in the league since 17 January and although they pushed Arsenal all the way, there will be disappointment about both goals they conceded.
Argentina World Cup keeper Martinez will feel he should have done better with Havertz's equaliser, while Chelsea's defence was found wanting for Odegaard's winner.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 2 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 1 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 1 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 0 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
|
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Xabi Alonso
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
High chance of scoring
Medium chance of scoring
Low chance of scoring
Dominant period
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
| Minute | Team with most threat |
|---|---|
Kick off 1' | Chelsea |
2' | ChelseaGoal |
3' | Chelsea |
4' | Chelsea |
5' | Arsenal |
6' | Arsenal |
7' | Arsenal |
8' | Arsenal |
9' | Arsenal |
10' | Arsenal |
11' | Arsenal |
12' | Arsenal |
13' | Arsenal |
14' | Arsenal |
15' | Arsenal |
16' | Arsenal |
17' | Arsenal |
18' | Arsenal |
19' | Arsenal |
20' | Arsenal |
21' | Chelsea |
22' | Chelsea |
23' | Arsenal |
24' | Arsenal |
25' | ArsenalGoal |
26' | Arsenal |
27' | Chelsea |
28' | Chelsea |
29' | Chelsea |
30' | Arsenal |
31' | Arsenal |
32' | Arsenal |
33' | Arsenal |
34' | Arsenal |
35' | Arsenal |
36' | Arsenal |
37' | Arsenal |
38' | Arsenal |
39' | Arsenal |
40' | Arsenal |
41' | Chelsea |
42' | Chelsea |
43' | Chelsea |
44' | Chelsea |
45' | Chelsea |
45'+1 | Arsenal |
45'+2 | Arsenal |
45'+3 | Arsenal |
45'+4 | Arsenal |
Half time 45'+5 | Arsenal |
46' | Arsenal |
47' | Chelsea |
48' | Arsenal |
49' | Arsenal |
50' | ArsenalGoal |
51' | Arsenal |
52' | Arsenal |
53' | Arsenal |
54' | Arsenal |
55' | Arsenal |
56' | Arsenal |
57' | Arsenal |
58' | Chelsea |
59' | Arsenal |
60' | Arsenal |
61' | Chelsea |
62' | Chelsea |
63' | Chelsea |
64' | Chelsea |
65' | Chelsea |
66' | Arsenal |
67' | Arsenal |
68' | Arsenal |
69' | Arsenal |
70' | Arsenal |
71' | Arsenal |
72' | Arsenal |
73' | Arsenal |
74' | Arsenal |
75' | Arsenal |
76' | Chelsea |
77' | Chelsea |
78' | Chelsea |
79' | Chelsea |
80' | Chelsea |
81' | Chelsea |
82' | Chelsea |
83' | Chelsea |
84' | Chelsea |
85' | Chelsea |
86' | Arsenal |
87' | Arsenal |
88' | Chelsea |
89' | Chelsea |
90' | Chelsea |
90'+1 | Chelsea |
90'+2 | Chelsea |
90'+3 | Chelsea |
90'+4 | Chelsea |
Full time 90'+5 | Chelsea |
Premier League
All competitions
All competitions
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches against Chelsea (W6 D3), their best unbeaten run against the Blues since a run of 19 between 1995 and 2005.
Chelsea have lost their last four away Premier League games against Arsenal by an aggregate score of 11-2. Their last win there was in August 2021, a 2-0 victory.
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 29 Premier League London derbies (W22 D6) and are unbeaten in their last 16 (W12 D4). The last side to have a longer unbeaten run was the Gunners themselves between August 2022 and November 2023 (17 games).
Chelsea have started 2026-27 with three consecutive wins in all competitions (two in the Premier League, one in the League Cup). The Blues last won their opening four games to a season in 2016-17 (Antonio Conte’s first four) and their opening three Premier League games in 2018-19 (under Maurizio Sarri).
Arsenal have won their first two Premier League matches this season but only once in the last 21 seasons have the Gunners started their campaign with three wins, doing so in 2022-23.
Chelsea’s two Premier League matches this season have seen 12 goals (7 for, 5 against), the joint-third most in a side’s first two games of a campaign in the competition, behind only Arsenal in 2004-05 (13) and Leeds United in 2020-21 (14). They could become the first side to see their opening three games of a top-flight season all have 5+ goals since Arsenal in 1988-89.
Across the first two matchdays of 2026-27, Arsenal faced the fewest shots (11), the fewest shots on target (1) and allowed their opponents the lowest xG (0.54) of any Premier League side. Since 2022-23, the Gunners have had 16 games where their opponents haven’t had a shot on target – twice as many as any other side (Liverpool, 8).
Bukayo Saka has scored in each of his last two Premier League appearances, last scoring in more consecutively in January/February 2024 (5 in a row). The last Arsenal player to score in their first three games in a season was Alexandre Lacazette in 2020-21.
Cole Palmer has scored 49 goals in 98 Premier League games for Chelsea. Only two players have reached 50 for the Blues in fewer than 100 games – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (84) and Diego Costa (85).
João Pedro has scored and assisted in both of Chelsea’s Premier League games this season, the first player to do so in the club’s first two matches of a campaign. The only player to score and assist in each of his first three appearances of a Premier League season is West Ham’s Michail Antonio in 2021-22.