Havertz and Odegaard fire Arsenal past Chelsea in comeback win

Arsenal passed their first major test of the season with a champion's comeback. Mikel Arteta's side recovered from Morgan Rogers' early strike and beat Chelsea 2-1 in the London derby thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. With a perfect record and just one goal conceded in three matches, the title holders are showing they do not miss the elite striker they chased all summer.

• Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 after falling behind to a Morgan Rogers goal in the second minute.
• Kai Havertz equalised before half-time and Martin Odegaard scored the winner in the 50th minute.
• Arteta's team have nine points from three games and have conceded only once.
• Former Premier League winner Chris Sutton says nobody can stop Arsenal this season.
• The London club have won eight league games in a row stretching back to last season.

Havertz and Odegaard respond after Morgan Rogers gives Chelsea an early lead

Chelsea struck first and struck early. Morgan Rogers, the £117m signing, put the home side ahead after two minutes and tested the patience of the reigning champions. Arsenal's response, however, came before the break through Kai Havertz, who scored against his former club to level the match.

In the second half, Martin Odegaard completed the comeback in the 50th minute with a precise finish after a run from Riccardo Calafiori. The Arsenal captain, who scored only once in 36 league appearances last season, now has three goals in four games in all competitions this campaign. His combination with Bukayo Saka and Havertz down the right side was decisive once again.

Our mentality is to keep fighting. We have shown that many times. We never want to concede early, but the reaction was top and we got our reward in the end.

Why Arsenal do not miss the elite striker they failed to sign in the summer

Arsenal spent close to £200m on new signings during the transfer window but could not secure the elite forward they wanted. Julian Alvarez was on their radar before staying at Atletico Madrid, while the club also looked at Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola and Vinicius Jr. Rogers joined Chelsea, Barcola moved to Liverpool and Vinicius Jr remained at Real Madrid.

Despite that, the start of the season shows Arteta's side do not depend on an external goalscorer. Havertz, at the club since 2023, and Odegaard, since 2021, have taken on the attacking responsibility with ease. The Germany forward said the Norwegian captain is back to his very best and pointed out that the squad has more than enough quality to compete against rivals who have spent far more money.

Nine points, one goal conceded and a record that echoes the Invincibles

Arsenal are one of only two clubs, along with Manchester City, with a perfect record after three rounds. They have also conceded just once and have won in different ways: sweeping aside Coventry on the opening day, showing maturity at Villa Park and digging deep to come from behind against Chelsea.

This is only the third time in their history that the club have won their opening three top-flight matches while conceding fewer than two goals. The previous occasions were in 1924-25, when they finished 20th, and in 2003-04, when they lifted the Premier League title without losing a single game. They have also won eight consecutive league matches dating back to last season.

Chris Sutton's warning: nobody can stop Arsenal

Chris Sutton, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers, was blunt when assessing Arteta's side. The former striker described Arsenal as a powerhouse and said that although Chelsea are a good team, the reigning champions always find a way to win. For Sutton, no other Premier League club has the tools to stop Arsenal in the title race.

Ashley Young, the former Manchester United and England player, highlighted Odegaard's importance. The veteran praised his ability to link up with Saka and Havertz and described the Norwegian as a joy to watch on the ball. He also pointed out Calafiori's free role and the quality of his run and pass for the winning goal.

What comes next for Arsenal: Champions League trip to Napoli and a visit to Sunderland

Before returning to Premier League action, Arsenal open their Champions League campaign away to Napoli on Wednesday. Havertz said the team will travel with confidence after beating Chelsea, a side with a deep and expensive squad that could not prevent the Gunners' comeback.

Their next league match is on Saturday at Sunderland. Level on points with Manchester City at the top and in relentless form since the end of last season, Arteta's side face a demanding week hoping to extend their winning run and show they can lift the title again.