Martin Odegaard scored the winner as Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates, making it three wins from three and keeping them level with Manchester City as the only teams with 100 percent records.
Summer target Morgan Rogers opened the scoring inside two minutes as Xabi Alonso's side continued their habit of starting fast but, after seeing a set piece goal disallowed by VAR, Kai Havertz had the champions back level against the side he once scored for in a Champions League final. Odegaard's fine start to the season continued as he fired home what proved to be the winning goal five minutes after the restart.
Rogers stuns the Emirates
Rogers' opening goal came after just 77 seconds as the Chelsea playmaker fired in a volley that trickled, rather than flew, past David Raya into the bottom corner to stun the Emirates crowd. The champions thought they were level after just 11 minutes when another set piece looked to have struck gold. A Declan Rice ball into the box was stopped initially before it was bundled in by Riccardo Calafiori, but VAR ended the celebrations when Ezri Konsa was pinned for being offside.
Chelsea have been tipped as outsiders to challenge Arsenal and in a pulsating first-half the Blues suggested they have it in them to go with their London rivals. They though were undone by their former player in Havertz, who cut inside to fire home the equaliser. The German was key in Arsenal's second, dummying a Christos Tzolis cross to leave Odegaard one-on-one with the goalkeeper before thumping home as his stellar start to the season continued. Estevao came closest to firing in Chelsea's equaliser as he cut in from the right, forcing a stellar save from Raya.
Talking points
The early season optimism surrounding Chelsea may not have been lost on Arsenal, who have shown themselves to be London's dominant force once again. Every so often it's good for those on top of the mountain to send a reminder that they remain the benchmark. Arsenal did exactly that on Sunday against a Blues team that will firmly believe - and look to be - upwardly mobile. Despite their early lead they couldn't hold on against a Gunners team that won't have had to come from behind too often, but showed they're more than capable.
It was written in the stars that Rogers would rock up at the Emirates, wearing blue, and silence the crowd. Few would've expected his impact on the game to come so soon but Rogers continued his bright start to life at Chelsea, no doubt leaving some questioning Arsenal's decision to bypass signing him. Ultimately Chelsea won the race for his signature because the Gunners refused to veer from their valuation of the playmaker. Time will tell as to whether their decision was a shrewd or a stubborn one, but those in charge of the Chelsea recruitment, and Rogers himself, will have taken great satisfaction from seeing his 20-yard effort trickle in.
There genuinely were those during the summer who questioned whether Odegaard's time at the Emirates should be considered such was the decline in his role. Once the central point of the Arsenal attack, injuries and constant new arrivals had seen other team-mates become major players in the final third. The Norwegian wasn't always available last term, but when he was his starting berth wasn't guaranteed. This season Odegaard looks like a man determined to prove he should never have been doubted. Not only is he as influential as ever, he's scoring with regularity, and looks back to his effortless best.
Chelsea in the hunt - but not there yet
In a world where Arsenal have been semi-anointed by some as champions such is their continuity and the upheaval of their rivals, Chelsea have shown that their new era may not need years to come alive. Of the traditional top six, five have managers taking charge of their team for a full season for the first time. Of all those new managers Alonso has more pedigree than any - and it's not as if Chelsea have been shy when it comes to spending money in recent years. Put those things together and the Blues could well prove to be Arsenal's closest challengers. Sunday's clash was their litmus test and their performance suggested they could be a problem for Arteta and co, even if they still have another level to find as things stand.
The Alonso-era got underway at Fulham a fortnight ago with a goal inside 32 seconds thanks to Joao Pedro, and that fast start has become a habit for the Blues, who have been quick to take the lead against Brighton and Arsenal since then. Rogers' goal at the Emirates meant that Chelsea became the first side in Premier League history to score inside five minutes in each of their first three games. The Blues haven't shown themselves to have the sternest of defences this year, but they're showing they're always good for a goal, and the first goal in any game is a huge boost.
