Arsenal have maintained their perfect start to the new Premier League season after coming from behind to defeat London rivals Chelsea 2–1 at the Emirates Stadium.
The defending champions were stunned after just 77 seconds when Chelsea forward Morgan Rogers fired ahead with a well-struck volley.
The early setback, however, did little to silence the home supporters as Arsenal quickly responded with sustained pressure.The opening stages produced a high-tempo encounter, with Arsenal creating several opportunities.
Riccardo Calafiori thought he had equalised the home team, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
As the match intensified, Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was repeatedly booed by sections of the Emirates crowd as the match continued.
Arsenal eventually found their equaliser in the 25th minute.
Facing his former club, Kai Havertz cut inside before his effort squeezed past Martínez to level the score at 1–1.
The equaliser lifted the home side, while Chelsea continued to pose a threat on the counter. Both sides had opportunities before the interval, ensuring the match remained finely balanced at half-time.
Five minutes into the second half, Arsenal completed the turnaround.
Havertz cleverly allowed a pass to run through to captain Martin Ødegaard, who finished powerfully to give the hosts a 2–1 lead.
The goal sparked another major celebration from the Emirates as Arsenal took control of the contest.
Chelsea, however, refused to surrender and pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
The closing stages became increasingly heated, particularly after an altercation between Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice. The two England internationals were involved in a confrontation following an off-the-ball incident, with teammates stepping in to prevent the situation from escalating.
Rogers was later substituted.
As he made his way towards the Chelsea bench, Arsenal supporters directed a pointed chant at the Chelsea forward, singing: “You should have signed for a big club.”
The chant was a reference to Arsenal’s reported interest in Rogers before the player completed his move to Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth around £117 million.
Chelsea continued to search for an equaliser in the closing minutes, but Arsenal goalkeeper, David Raya produced a crucial late save to preserve his side’s advantage.
The final whistle confirmed Arsenal’s third consecutive Premier League victory and extended their unbeaten run against Chelsea to 12 matches across all competitions.
Coaches’ Remarks
Speaking after the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his players for their reaction to Chelsea’s early goal.
Arteta described the performance as “exceptional”, while also praising captain Martin Ødegaard, who has begun the season in impressive form.
The Arsenal boss said he believes the team can reach an even higher level than last season, despite having already won the Premier League title.
For Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, the result represented his first Premier League defeat since taking charge of the club.
Alonso admitted that the loss was painful but praised his players for their effort in a fiercely contested encounter.
“…it needs to hurt, but it needs to hurt in a positive way…” Alonso said, describing the match as “a very intense game.”
The Chelsea manager also acknowledged that his side must continue developing, particularly in terms of defensive balance and controlling difficult periods of matches.
Despite the defeat, Alonso remained positive about Chelsea’s long-term prospects, insisting that the team is still developing and has a long journey ahead.
For Arsenal, the win is another strong start to the season.
After conceding in the opening two minutes, the champions showed the resilience that helped them win the Premier League title last season.
Chelsea made a perfect start, but Arsenal responded well.
With both teams expected to challenge near the top of the table, Sunday’s London derby could prove important as the season progresses.
