Arsenal maintained their flawless start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, though Xabi Alonso's side offered plenty of evidence that they intend to be genuine title contenders this term.
The result extended Arsenal's unbeaten record to nine points from three games, but it was the manner of the performance that stood out. Mikel Arteta's champions have now beaten Chelsea in all four meetings between the sides in 2026, yet none of the previous encounters carried the intensity or drama of this latest clash.
Chelsea burst out of the blocks, taking the lead after just 77 seconds through Morgan Rogers, whose volley stunned the home crowd. Arsenal, however, responded with waves of attacking pressure and were rewarded when Kai Havertz equalised in the 25th minute, with Martin Ødegaard also heavily involved in the creative work that followed. Emi Martinez, deputising in Chelsea's goal, has now conceded five times in his opening two matches as the club's new No. 1, and questions were raised over his positioning for Havertz's leveller.
Despite falling behind, Arsenal never appeared rattled. Goalkeeper David Raya said the calm belief within the squad stemmed from finally ending their long wait for the league title last season, a triumph that arrived after three consecutive runner-up finishes and snapped a drought stretching back to 2004.
"Winning the league after that many years and after those years that you are so close … it gives you that relief and it gives you that extra confidence," Raya said. "Coming from the three games this season, especially the Community Shield, winning against City, the way we played against them – that gives you extra motivation and extra confidence to play the way we want to play."
Raya acknowledged the early setback but praised his side's reaction. "There's things to improve on that goal. We had to defend a little bit better, especially right at the start of the game. It was disappointing to concede that goal. But the main thing is the reaction that we had after it and the way we played. The way we dominated, the way we attacked, we defended," he said, adding that Arsenal were well aware of Chelsea's threat on the counter. "We know how good Chelsea are, especially in transitions, and the way the play is dragged back to defend. So it was a really important win."
The Spanish goalkeeper produced a crucial late save to deny substitute Estêvão, whose stunning effort looked destined for the top corner before being tipped over, preserving Arsenal's narrow advantage in a frantic finish that also saw Pedro Neto strike the post for Chelsea.
For all the disappointment of a fourth straight loss to their rivals, Chelsea can take genuine encouragement from their display. Alonso's side matched Arsenal for large periods, with a clever tactical setup — keeping Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, Rogers and Neto positioned near the halfway line during Arsenal corners — helping neutralise a set-piece threat that proved so effective for the Gunners last season. It was only in the final half hour that Arsenal's greater composure and control became apparent, with Chelsea appearing to tire as the champions saw out the win.
Captain Reece James struck a defiant tone afterwards, simply stating: "We know what we have to do." With Moises Caicedo still to return to midfield and new arrival Marco Palestra waiting in the wings, Alonso's rebuild appears to be gathering momentum even in defeat.
Arsenal, meanwhile, remain the team to catch, having now beaten both champions-elect rivals City and Chelsea in the season's opening weeks, underlining Arteta's belief that his side can go back-to-back in the title race.
Based on reporting from standard-football and guardian-football.