Arsenal continued their perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League season with a pulsating 2-1 win against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side condemned Xabi Alonso to his first defeat as Chelsea manager, despite the West London side getting off to a superb start, with £117 million summer signing Morgan Rogers netting inside the opening two minutes.
Arsenal’s urgency for an immediate leveller was apparent, as the game opened into a high-tempo, frenetic, back-and-forth clash which saw chances fall at either end.
And it appeared the hosts had levelled on 12 minutes when Riccardo Calafiori bundled into the net following a goalmouth scramble from a Declan Rice free-kick.
The home crowd, though, would be quelled when it was adjudged Ezri Konsa – making his first start for Arsenal – was offside when he struck against the post before Calafiori turned the ball into the net.
However, Arsenal did find the leveller shortly after, when Kai Havertz picked the ball up from the right, cut inside and drilled a low, left-footed effort past Emi Martinez at the near post.
Pedro Neto was inches from firing Chelsea back into the lead in first-half stoppage time, but his curling effort bounced off the base of the left post.
And that proved damaging for the visitors, as Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard fired his side ahead five minutes after the break, Havertz letting Christos Tzolis’ ball run under his left foot before the Norway international fired beyond Martinez from inside the box.
Both sides threatened as the second half wore on, with Chelsea substitute Estevao forcing the most dangerous moment, with David Raya flying to meet his sweetly struck left-footed curling effort, which seemed destined for the top corner.
But Alonso’s entertainers could not find a leveller, meaning Arsenal join Manchester City as the only two sides with three wins from three to start the season.
Arteta’s Premier League champions will quickly turn their attention to Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League opener at Napoli, while Chelsea – without continental football this season – host Leeds United in the Carabao Cup the same night.
