Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Al Jazeera Staff
Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, ending their rivals' unbeaten start to the Premier League season. The match saw Kai Havertz equalize for Arsenal midway through the first half, and Martin Odegaard net the winning goal soon after halftime. This was Arsenal's third consecutive league win, keeping them in second place behind Manchester City, who have a better goal differential. Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso suffered his first defeat since taking charge at Stamford Bridge, with Rogers' early goal being canceled out by Havertz and Odegaard's goals for Arsenal.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Arsenal vs Chelsea: A Tale of Two Derbies
The highly anticipated London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea is just around the corner, with both teams looking to assert their dominance in the Premier League.
In a pre-match interview, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his confidence in his team's ability to compete against the Blues. "I think they have every ingredient to be in the highest part of the table," he said.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso is expected to deploy Reece James in midfield, where his importance will likely grow after the transfer collapse of Lamine Camara and Enzo Fernandez's departure for Manchester City.
The two teams have been on a roll so far this season, with Arsenal showcasing their strength in depth against Aston Villa and Chelsea impressing with an attacking display against Brighton.
This match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two teams with different strengths. Can Arteta's side contain the Blues' new-look attack, or will Alonso's men prove too strong for the Gunners?
Chelsea XI vs Arsenal: Predicted Lineup
Emi Martinez is set to keep his place in goal, while Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro will again form the fearsome front three.
Reece James could start in midfield, where he will be expected to play a crucial role alongside Romeo Lavia and Valentin Barco.
Arsenal XI vs Chelsea: Predicted Lineup
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has indicated that Cristhian Mosquera's withdrawal against Aston Villa was precautionary, but the Gunners may still opt to add more experience to their back line with Ezri Konsa pushing for his full debut.
Bruno Guimaraes is a doubt after picking up a small issue in the previous match, while Timber is closing in on a return from injury.
How to Watch Arsenal vs Chelsea
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 4pm BST ahead of the 4.30pm BST kick off.
Written for “Arsenal vs Chelsea Derby” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 34 other(s) covering the same event.
Arsenal delivered an emphatic response to Chelsea’s emergence as potential Premier League title contenders with a 2-1 win that ended their rivals’ unbeaten start.
asserted
that → deliver → start
Mikel Arteta’s side trailed to a second-minute goal by Morgan Rogers in a pulsating London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
asserted
side → trail → Sunday
Recommended Stories
list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Coach Luis Enrique unconcerned by PSG’s poor start to French league season
- list 2 of 4Haaland heads Man City to the top of Premier League with win over Coventry
- list 3 of 4Betis beat Real Madrid as Mbappe misses penalty in first defeat of season
- list 4 of 4Liverpool beat Ipswich as Isak double hands Iraola his first win
But the champions showed why they are firm favourites to retain the title with a blistering response to that early setback.
asserted
they → head → setback
Kai Havertz bagged the equaliser against his former club midway through the first half and Martin Odegaard netted Arsenal’s winner soon after the interval.
asserted
Odegaard → bag → interval
It was a statement of intent from second-placed Arsenal, who have won all three league matches to sit behind leaders Manchester City on goal scored.
asserted
who → place → goal
The Gunners’ mature display underlined their desire to win the club’s first back-to-back titles since the 1930s.
asserted
display → underline → 1930s
For Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, the defeat ended his three-game winning run in all competitions since taking charge at Stamford Bridge in the close-season.
asserted
defeat → end → season
Alonso will realise just how much work Chelsea still have to do before they are in position to end a title drought dating back to 2017.
asserted
they → realise → 2017
Chelsea’s shaky defence is prone to costly miscues, while their vaunted attack found it harder to flourish against Arsenal than in their free-scoring wins over Fulham, Luton and Brighton.
asserted
it → find → Fulham
Arteta and Alonso have known each other since their days as childhood friends in the Basque region of Spain.
asserted
Arteta → know → Spain
The chaotic matches of their youth on a gravel pitch in the Berio district of San Sebastian would have seemed calm in comparison to the blood and thunder their teams brought to a raucous corner of north London.
asserted
teams → seem → London
Chelsea beat Arsenal in the race to sign Rogers from Aston Villa in the close-season after the Gunners refused to match the Blues’ 117 million pound ($158m) bid for the England midfielder.
asserted
Gunners → beat → midfielder
Rogers showed why Chelsea made him the most expensive British player in history as he put the Blues ahead after just 77 seconds.
asserted
he → show → seconds
Arsenal’s rock-solid defence had allowed just one shot on target in their first two games.
asserted
defence → allow → games
So often masters of the set-piece, Arteta’s men were found wanting at a free kick for once.
asserted
men → find → kick
Reece James’ lofted delivery was not cleared by Declan Rice or Odegaard, giving Rogers the chance to drive a low volley past David Raya from the edge of the penalty area.
asserted
delivery → clear → area
It was the first goal conceded by Arsenal this season.
asserted
It → concede → Arsenal
Having conceded five times in their first two league games under Alonso, Chelsea’s three-man central defence remains flawed and they were exposed again in the 25th minute.
asserted
they → concede → minute
Havertz was allowed to drift from the right flank to the edge of the area unchecked by Jorrel Hato before the German smashed a low strike through the slow to react Maxence Lacroix’s legs and past Emiliano Martinez at his near post.
asserted
German → allow → post
Martinez was signed from Villa to replace the error-prone Robert Sanchez but the Argentinian’s’s weak attempted save was hardly an improvement on his hapless predecessor.
asserted
save → sign → predecessor
Pedro Neto was inches away from restoring Chelsea’s lead just before half-time when the Portugal winger slapped his shot against the far post.
Where Chelsea were profligate, Arsenal have developed a ruthless touch in front of goal.
asserted
Arsenal → restore → goal
They exploited Chelsea’s weakness at the back to net with a superbly-crafted move in the 50th minute.
asserted
They → exploit → minute
Christos Tzolis has made an impressive start following his close-season move from Club Brugge and the Greek winger’s incisive pass sliced through the Chelsea defence to Havertz.
asserted
pass → make → Havertz
The German’s clever dummy let the ball run through to Odegaard and he kept his composure to slot home from 10 yards.
asserted
he → let → yards
Rogers’ angry clash with Rice prompted mocking chants of “you should have signed for a big club” from Arsenal fans.
asserted
you → prompt → fans
Chelsea had chances to silence the taunts, but Malo Gusto blazed over from a good position before Estevao Willian’s rocket was tipped over by Raya in the final minutes.
asserted
rocket → silence → minutes
Odegaard told Sky Sports it was a “massive” game for his side.
asserted
it → tell → side
“It was a big, massive game, a tough opponent, really hard for us against a really good team,” he said.
asserted
he → say → team
“We always want to keep fighting and have shown that many times.
asserted
We → want → ?
Conceding early is never ideal, but our reaction was top – we could have scored some more goals and got our reward.
uncertain
we → concede → reward
I think it was a brilliant performance.”
asserted
it → think → ?
