Morgan Rogers scored after just 77 seconds but Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard turned the match around.
Rogers netted against the club he could have joined from Aston Villa this summer, but that was as good as it got for Chelsea in the first 'big six' clash of the Premier League campaign. Arsenal saw the bulk of the ball and took control in the second half.
Title credentials questioned
Mikel Arteta had said he believes Chelsea have shown they are capable of competing for the Premier League title this season. They look far better than last term and will be there or thereabouts, but genuine title challengers looked a slight exaggeration, at least on this evidence.
There were positive notes for Chelsea, including the confidence with which Rogers took his goal after one minute and 17 seconds. Pedro Neto hit the post while Estevao so nearly made it 2-2 by forcing a stunning David Raya save on 89 minutes.
Rogers shows Arsenal what they missed
Rogers became Chelsea's club-record signing for £117m this summer. Arsenal held long-standing interest in the England man but dallied, and Chelsea acted decisively, wrapping up the deal after England had been knocked out of the World Cup by Argentina.
The move took concerted effort from Chelsea's five-strong team of sporting directors, as well as Xabi Alonso. Cole Palmer, who saw plenty of the ball but made no telling contribution, did his part to convince his former Manchester City academy teammate to join, saying he sent numerous texts to Rogers, "persuading him to come".
Rogers was one of Chelsea's brightest sparks, exchanging passes with Joao Pedro and almost reinstating the Blues' lead before the break but curling wide. "You should have signed for a big club," Arsenal fans chanted after Rogers and Declan Rice had a coming together on 84 minutes.
Fast starts a key strength
Chelsea's front three of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Rogers have caused problems for every team they have faced this season, and they look particularly threatening when they catch opponents off-guard. They became the first side in history to score in the first five minutes of their opening three Premier League games, having also done so against Fulham and Brighton.
It is sustaining that level into the second half that evaded them against Arsenal, as they met their match and failed to win for the first time in all competitions this term.
