+34Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard scoring after Morgan Rogers' opener. The win ended Chelsea's unbeaten start under Xabi Alonso and kept Arsenal perfect after three Premier League games.
Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to hand Xabi Alonso's side their first defeat. Mikel Arteta's defending champions fell behind to Morgan Rogers' goal after just 77 seconds.
Kai Havertz equalised in the 25th minute and Martin Odegaard scored early in the second half. Arsenal have now won all three league games and sit behind Manchester City only on goals scored. Some had billed this as the first heavyweight encounter of the season, the immovable object against the irresistible force. Chelsea arrived under Alonso with a three-game winning run in all competitions after free-scoring wins over Fulham, Luton and Brighton.
Chelsea had scored very early in Alonso's first two league matches, against Fulham and Brighton. They had also conceded five times in those games, exposing flaws in their three-man central defence. This was the acid test against an Arsenal defence that had allowed only one shot on target in their opening two games. Arteta and Alonso grew up as childhood friends in the Basque region of Spain.
Their chaotic matches on a gravel pitch in the Berio district of San Sebastian seemed calm compared with the blood and thunder produced here. Alonso set up Chelsea with three central defenders. The selection was a reminder of Antonio Conte, who had brought Chelsea to this ground almost 10 years earlier, trailed 3-0 at half-time and switched to a back three on the way to the title.
Chelsea beat Arsenal in the summer race to sign Rogers from Aston Villa after the Gunners refused to match the Blues' £117m (€136.21m) bid. Arsenal had offered £80m for the England midfielder. That made Rogers the most expensive British player in history. Rogers showed why after 77 seconds.
Reece James's free-kick was not cleared by Declan Rice or Odegaard, and Jorrel Hato outjumped the Arsenal captain before Rogers drove a low volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded this season, and David Raya might have done better. Arsenal's response was ferocious, and the Emirates sounded like a bear-pit.
Emiliano Martinez, the former Arsenal goalkeeper signed by Chelsea from Aston Villa, threw himself into a thicket of legs to keep out Odegaard's low free-kick. He took a boot to the head from Gabriel Magalhaes for his trouble. Martinez also saved from Gabriel at close quarters after Joao Pedro failed to clear Declan Rice's free-kick. Ezri Konsa then hit the post and Riccardo Calafiori lashed in the rebound, but Konsa was offside and the goal was disallowed.
Chelsea kept putting bodies on the line as waves of home attacks continued. Bukayo Saka was denied by Martinez, Wesley Fofana blocked from Havertz, and Reece James tested Raya from distance. Arsenal stormed back, and Hato made a saving block on Odegaard. The number of chances Arsenal created before the equaliser was staggering.
The equaliser arrived in the 25th minute as a soft concession. Havertz, facing his former club, smashed a low strike through Maxence Lacroix's legs and past Martinez at the near post. Martinez, signed from Villa to replace Robert Sanchez, had a weak attempt that was hardly an improvement on his predecessor. Chelsea almost led again before half-time.
Rogers curled an effort past the far post, and Pedro Neto cut inside from the right to send a low shot against the far post after Joao Pedro released him. The interval arrived with the scores level. Arsenal went ahead in the 50th minute. Christos Tzolis, impressive since his summer move from Club Brugge, delivered an incisive pass from the left to Havertz.
Havertz's dummy froze Wesley Fofana and let the ball run to Odegaard, who had started the move and finished from 10 yards. Arsenal's confidence shone through, rooted in more than the occasion. They had not lost to their crosstown rivals in 11 previous meetings in all competitions, winning eight. They were also not afraid to go long and fast from back to front through Raya.
Chelsea sought a response through their main threats. Rogers almost escaped until Ezri Konsa halted him with a thunderous slide tackle. Cole Palmer flitted around the edges and had a couple of half-chances. Saka forced Martinez into a fine save after a lovely touch from Havertz, and Martinez grabbed a loose ball from a corner while already on the ground.
Rogers's angry clash with Declan Rice prompted Arsenal fans to chant that he should have signed for a big club. Chelsea kept pushing in the final minutes. Malo Gusto blazed over from a good position. On 89 minutes, substitute Estevao Willian forced Raya to tip over a rocket from the edge of the area.
Arsenal did not deserve to drop points. They had too much for Chelsea and knew it. The champions will take some stopping. Alonso, meanwhile, must address a defence that has conceded five times in two league games if Chelsea are to close a title drought dating back to 2017.
Please follow us on Google to support us
IrishTimesSport
The42_ie:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Arsenal Chelsea-Fc Premier League Chelsea Morgan Rogers Martin Odegaard
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What does Katie McCabe bring to Chelsea after a decade at rivals Arsenal?New chapter for Ireland captain as WSL returns.
Read more »
Morgan Rogers' €136m Chelsea move sets British record and highlights transfer divideMorgan Rogers moved from Aston Villa to Chelsea for a British record €136m after Arsenal stalled near €75m. The transfer exposes the Premier League's new trading model as Chelsea prepare to visit Arsenal.
Read more »
Arsenal recover from early Morgan Rogers goal to beat Chelsea 2-1Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard scoring either side of half-time. The result ended Chelsea's unbeaten start and kept Arsenal perfect in their Premier League title defence.
Read more »
Arsenal recover from Rogers early goal to beat Chelsea 2-1 and keep perfect startArsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard scoring after Morgan Rogers' opener. The win ended Chelsea's unbeaten start under Xabi Alonso and kept Arsenal perfect after three Premier League games.
Read more »