Arsenal turned a 77‑second early goal into a 2‑1 comeback victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. The win kept their Premier League start unbeaten and placed them level with Manchester City after three matches.
Arsenal’s comeback after early goal
Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea the lead after 77 seconds, capitalising on a free‑kick from Reece James that unsettled Arsenal’s defence. The £117 million summer signing’s volley was the first goal Arsenal have conceded this season, ending their early defensive perfection.
Minutes later, Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez was struck in the face by Gabriel Magalhaes' left boot and required treatment before continuing. The incident left Martinez clutching his face, while Gabriel escaped any punishment.
Kai Havertz equalised in the 25th minute, beating Martinez at the near post with a composed finish to level the scores. Chelsea remained dangerous, with captain James forcing a distant save before Pedro Neto hit the post after a solo run.
Five minutes into the second half, Havertz cleverly allowed the ball to run across him, creating space for Martin Odegaard to finish beyond Martinez. Odegaard’s second goal in three league appearances completed the comeback and proved enough to settle the contest.
"It was a big game, massive game, [against a] tough opponent and we got there in the end, so brilliant. Our mentality is to keep fighting. We have shown that many times. We never want to concede early but the reaction is top. We got our reward in [the] end and the response was brilliant. We showed our quality with and without the ball and the result reflects that,"
— Martin Odegaard, Arsenal captain
The victory leaves Arsenal alongside Manchester City as the only teams with a 100 per cent record after three matches. It also extends their Premier League winning run to eight games, stretching back into last season.
Implications for the title race
For manager Mikel Arteta, the match was an early test against a Chelsea side that had also won its opening two league games and arrived with renewed ambition after spending close to £350 million during the summer transfer window. Chelsea’s defensive lapses have raised questions for manager Xabi Alonso, who must find answers quickly.
