Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1: Gunners win early Premier League title showdown as Havertz and Odegaard seal huge comeback win

THEY’RE not just “Set Piece FC” any more. But they’re still the best in the land, perhaps by a country mile. Martin Odegaard scored Arsenal’s second of the game Credit: Getty Morgan Rogers opened the scoring after 77 seconds Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s equaliser Credit: Getty Mikel Arteta won the battle of the Basque against Xabi Alonso Credit: Getty And while Xabi Alonso and Chelsea were not humiliated at the Emirates, the gap between champions and early-season pretenders still seems a chasm. Last term, acclamation for Mikel Arteta’s side came with caveats attached. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Dull to watch. Too controlled and formulaic. Overly reliant on their dead-ball prowess. Not that any of that mattered when Martin Odegaard raised the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park in May. Joy and delight were the emotions. Yet on a September afternoon which showcased how Arteta has released the handbrake and told his team to win AND entertain, the sense that the Gunners are ready to embark on a campaign to attack, rather then merely defend, their crown, was hard to avoid. For the first time this season – indeed, the first time since the eventually illusory defeat at City in April – Arteta’s team went behind, a punch in the solar plexus from Morgan Rogers, plucked from their grasp by Chelsea’s £117m bid. Rogers ended battered and baited, sent flying both legitimately by Ezri Konsa and less fairly by Declan Rice, receiving a booking for his protests and the bird from the home fans. What followed that goal, though, was instructive and enthralling. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Arsenal ratings vs Chelsea: Havertz reminds Blues of what they let go but Lewis-Skelly in second gear KAI HAVERTZ inspired an Arsenal fight-back as they beat London rivals Chelsea to continue their perfect start. The Gunners were chasing the game after their former transfer target, Morgan Rogers, volleyed the visitors ahead after just 77 seconds. But Arsenal kept their cool and equalised when Havertz fired inside the near post midway through the first half. Havertz then set up Arsenal’s second – even though he won’t get credited with the assist – as his excellent dummy created the space for Martin Odegaard to turn in from close range. Chelsea gave Havertz his break in Premier League football when they shelled out big money to sign him from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. But he has enjoyed tormenting them – scoring four goals in seven head-to-heads – since he moved across the capital three years later. Here is the verdict of SunSport’s Simon Collings on how each Arsenal player performed… Vibrant attacking football, swift passing, intensity and conviction, to end with the Arsenal only trailing Enzo Maresca’s new team at the summit on goals scored after three straight wins. And in the crucial moments, poise and certainty when they had to pull the trigger. Kai Havertz, a bundle of invention, deservedly pulled them level – although Emi Martinez will not be alone in reflecting that he might have done better – fitting reward for their determination to get back on the front foot. And when Odegaard ghosted through a gap the width of the Channel Tunnel – created by Havertz’ gorgeous sleight of foot which left Wesley Fofana a befuddled mess – to fire home five minutes into the second half, it never really looked as if Chelsea would find a way to get back on terms. That is not to dismiss the industry of Alonso’s side. They will be fantastic going forward, lightning on the counter, with Joao Pedro a constant menace – as he showed by winning the free-kick that led to that early opener. Rogers’ volley was top drawer – although the bout of head tennis that preceded it was less glorious – Cole Palmer had his moments, Pedro Neto hit the post just before the interval. Joao Pedro gave Ezri Konsa a tough full debut, especially in the opening 45 minutes. Yet they are defensively vulnerable, far too vulnerable to be realistic challengers for the title. Three games played, seven goals conceded. Eight scored, yes, but you can’t keep on playing a high-wire act without falling off now and again. And the fall could have been harder and faster, too, had Arsenal taken all the opportunities their fluency and invention carved out. Arteta will recognise this was a proper test, especially after Chelsea went ahead so early, when Arsenal failed to deal with Reece James’ free-kick and Rogers sent his 20-yarder past the slow-reacting David Raya. But one his side passed, with flying colours, taking the reins and pushing Chelsea deeper and deeper, forcing errors until, eventually, the Blue dam broke. Alonso’s response to Arsenal’s corner threat – sending four players towards the halk-way line to prevent the red shirts flooding the box – did work. They were far less convincing as inventive free-kicks, first from Odegaard, then from Declan Rice, should have brought parity. Riccardo Calafiori’s air-shot squandered the initial opening – Gabriel was lucky to avoid sanction for a stray into Martinez’ head. Emiliano Martinez took a kick to the head from Gabriel Credit: Getty Odegaard jinked past the Blues defence to score Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Chelsea ratings vs Arsenal: Fofana holds his ground against Arsenal but Palmer is bullied out of game CHELSEA suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season as Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 at the Emirates. Morgan Rogers handed Xabi Alonso’s side a dream start by firing the Blues ahead after just 77 seconds. But former Chelsea star Kai Havertz hit back before half-time to drag the champions level. And Martin Odegaard completed the turnaround after the break to condemn Chelsea to derby defeat. SunSport’s Dan King gives his verdict on the Chelsea XI… Then when the Italian did convert from the next one, scrambling home, VAR rightly spotted Konsa was clearly offside when he hit the post in the build-up. But it was delaying the inevitable and – after moments of danger at the other end involving James, Palmer and Joao Pedro – Arsenal were on terms. Havertz, his movement outstanding, received from Rice, wide on the right. It should have been dealt with but he was able to float in unchallenged, Maxence Lacroix the final man in dereliction, before squeezing between Martinez and his left-hand upright. The keeper should have done better. Chelsea responded, Rogers wide from 16 yards after linking with Joao Pedro, before the half ended with Neto, scampering down the right and seeing his left footer travel beyond Raya but thud against the post. Yet there was no real answer, until it was far too late, to the decisive moment as Arsenal switched the ball from right to left, Calafiori finding Christos Tzolis. The Greek played towards Havertz, whose dummy left Fofana a statue as Odegaard ploughed through the gap before smashing past the exposed Martinez. A brilliant goal. Arsenal were happy to hold what they had, backing Raya to save, gather and punch. Arsenal have now won three from three in the Prem Credit: Reuters Chelsea tasted defeat in the league for the first time this season Credit: Alamy They know they can do that, too. The Spaniard parried one effort from Palmer and then, two minutes from time, flew high to his right to deny a superb strike from Estevao. We’ve seen that movie a few times before. But the rest of the Arsenal script is different. Much more fun. Unless you have to play them. Comment now