The simple reason behind Arsenal's impressive start to title defence

For Arsenal's best three attackers, progress is not proving hard to come by.Kai Havertz's equaliser against Chelsea on Sunday means he has already levelled last season's Premier League tally of goals.Even that is made to look sluggish by Martin Odegaard, who once again drifted into the box and got on the end of a Christos Tzolis pass for what proved to be the winner. That's two for the season, double what he managed last term.Add in Bukayo Saka's goals against Coventry and Aston Villa and the trio have six for the season in three league matches. Across the entirety of last season, they managed a total of ten.Mikel Arteta is often reluctant to single out players for praise, but his excitement at having the trio fit and available has been clear to see.Between December 2024 and the start of this season, Odegaard, Saka and Havertz started together once in the Premier League"He feels fit and confidence-wise, it’s the highest I’ve seen him," Arteta said of Odegaard on Sunday."He has a point to prove from last season as well, from missing so much football. Kai is the same; Bukayo is the same. "We missed so many attacking players last season for long, long periods - I’m not sure how many games they played together last season, but probably not many."Barely any, is closer to the answer. Between December 2024 and the start of this season, Odegaard, Saka and Havertz started together once in the Premier League.Just having them on the pitch is something new. Havertz has started three league matches in a row at the start of this campaign. He did not manage that until mid-April last season.It is no surprise, then, that Arteta believes that his side are ready to go up a level from their title-winning efforts.Read More"It's an indication for us that we’re capable of performing even higher than we did last season," Arteta said."It depends on whether we maintain that desire, that humility, and continue every day to find a greater version of myself and the team. "We still have a lot to grow and a lot to offer, and that’s the ambition of the team."Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Christos TzolisGettyThe victory over Chelsea, a 2-1 comeback win after Morgan Rogers had opened the scoring with barely a minute on the clock, suggested Arteta is right to be confident his side are even better now.Arsenal showed they can be the full package. They attacked with pace and relentless intensity, and they were as brutally efficient as ever in defence when the time came to hold onto a lead.That is now three wins from three to start the season. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber have not yet played a minute, while £75million summer signing Bruno Guimaraes has not made a league start.In attack is where the most encouraging signs are for Arsenal, signs that for now will quell talk of failing to land a marquee forward in the window.With Saka, Odegaard and Havertz on the pitch, Arsenal are a more flowing, aesthetically-pleasing team.The Gunners have not stepped up significantly in attack this season because Arteta has suddenly released the handbrake, but rather they simply have their best players available.When that trio are fit to start, Arsenal go up another level in technical ability. There are rotations across the attack and an intrinsic understanding, with all three naturally drifting over to the right.Arsenal will be a different team in attack if Arteta can have those at his disposal for the majority of the campaign.If not, more of what was seen last season will return, not because Arteta is a negative, fearful manager, but because Arsenal just cannot play in the same way.With Noni Madueke on the right and Viktor Gyokeres up front, for example, matches will be more frantic. They offer different qualities, but it is impossible to play with the same control.Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi EzeGettyThat security in possession is not there and turnovers will be far more frequent, as was seen when Gyokeres came on against Chelsea.That leads to edgier matches and tighter margins. Arsenal's defence is good enough to often come through that, but it is unwanted pressure over the course of the season.In those scenarios, when holding a narrow lead, Mikel Merino feels a safer bet as the striker if Havertz comes off.The Champions League starts in midweek and with it a hectic fixture list. Arteta will not be able to keep naming effectively the same side every match.That is no great concern in midfield. In a trimmed-down version of the South African rugby 'Bomb Squad' approach, when the bench is used to reinforce the scrum, Arsenal have seen out the last two matches by bringing on Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi.Against Chelsea, Guimaraes was not even required. That strength in depth ensures Arsenal's intensity does not need to dip.That is a welcome change from last season. Zubimendi was exhausted as his form collapsed late in the campaign. Declan Rice was run into the ground, too. There is no need for that to be the case this time, ominously for the rest of the league.Arteta's real test with managing the squad is in attack, where there is a more significant drop-off from starters to squad players.Arsenal need their big three playing but they also need them fit. Finding that balance will determine just how much better Arsenal really are this season.