Premier League champions Arsenal had to do it the hard way, coming from a goal down to defeat top spenders Chelsea in a thrilling London derby at Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea shocked the home fans by scoring the opener in the second minute through £117m summer signing Morgan Rogers’ volley after Arsenal failed to clear a free kick by Reece James.
That was the first goal that Mikel Arteta’s team had conceded this season.
Despite their fantastic beginning, Chelsea had not kept a clean sheet in their past 18 Premier League matches and Xabi Alonso’s team were forced to withstand relentless pressure from Arsenal.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez denied Bukayo Saka, while Jorrel Hato and Wesley Fofana each made important blocks before Arsenal ewualised in the 25th-minute after a former Chelsea striker beat Martinez at his near post with a well-placed finish.
In a top-tier game, Chelsea , came within a whisker of retaking the lead.
After captain James had forced goalkeeper David Raya into a save from outside the box, Pedro Neto struck the post after a wonderful solo run before Martin Odegaard scored the winner in the 50th minute.
The Arsenal captain beat Martinez after Havertz’s ingenious dummy, the second goal of the Norwegian in three Premier League matches of this campaign.
Chelsea substitute Estevao was thinking he had equalised right at the end of the match but Raya produced a brilliant finger-tip save as Chelsea lost for the fifth straight league game at Emirates Stadium.
