Arsenal played Chelsea on Sunday and won 2-1, with goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. The match was seen as a test for Arsenal, who have spent close to £200m on new signings this summer but still don't have an elite forward. Arsenal's captain, Odegaard, said his team's mentality is to keep fighting after conceding early in the game, and that they showed their quality with and without the ball. The win means Arsenal have a maximum of nine points from three games, just like Manchester City.
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.
- Published
Arsenal shelled out close to £200m on new signings during the summer transfer window but fell short of landing the elite forward they craved.
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they → publish → forward
Former Manchester City goalscorer Julian Alvarez was on their radar but remains at Atletico Madrid, while the Gunners were also interested in Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola and Vinicius Jr.
While Rogers opted for London rivals Chelsea, Barcola moved to Liverpool and Vinicius Jr has stayed at Real Madrid.
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Jr → remain → Madrid
Yet reigning champions Arsenal have started this season as strongly as they finished 2025-26, when they celebrated their first Premier League title for 22 years.
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they → reign → years
After wins over Coventry City and Aston Villa, they came from behind to beat big-spending Chelsea 2-1 in a thrilling derby on Sunday - thanks to goals from two familiar faces.
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they → come → faces
Kai Havertz, an Arsenal player since 2023, and Martin Odegaard, who joined in 2021, scored as they passed their first big test of the campaign against opponents who have spent close to £350m since the end of last season.
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who → join → season
A maximum nine points from three games, one goal conceded and big players stepping up.
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players → concede → games
"I can't see anyone stopping Arsenal," former Premier League winner Chris Sutton told BBC Sport.
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Sutton → see → Sport
'Our mentality is to keep fighting'
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mentality → keep → ?
It is surely too early in the season to get carried away, and there are likely to be bigger tests ahead for Mikel Arteta's side.
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It → get → side
But Arsenal have set down an early marker as they chase back-to-back Premier League crowns.
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they → set → crowns
After sweeping aside Coventry on the opening day of the season, they produced a mature performance to come away with all three points at Villa.
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they → sweep → Villa
Against Chelsea, they had to find a different way to win after £117m signing Rogers fired Chelsea into a second-minute lead.
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Rogers → have → lead
"Our mentality is to keep fighting.
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mentality → keep → ?
We have shown that many times," said captain Odegaard, who scored the 50th-minute winner after Havertz had equalised before half-time.
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Havertz → show → time
"We never want to concede early, but the reaction is top.
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reaction → want → ?
We got our reward in the end and the response was brilliant.
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response → get → end
"We showed our quality with and without the ball and the result reflects that.
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result → show → that
Odegaard has scored three goals in four appearances in all competitions this season, after netting only once in 36 last term.
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Odegaard → score → 36
"It was a big game, massive game, tough opponent, and we got there in the end, so brilliant," he said.
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he → get → end
Former Manchester United and England player Ashley Young said Odegaard's form will be key for Arsenal this season.
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form → say → Arsenal
"He's just a joy to watch," Young told BBC Sport.
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Young → watch → Sport
"He's exciting when he gets on the ball, he's allowing other players to get on the ball.
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players → get → ball
"The connection down the right side between him, Bukayo Saka and Havertz - it's just good to see when you've got players that know each other and build relationships in that way.
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that → see → way
He seems to me like he's the one that's got a free role in the team.
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that → seem → team
"It was his run, and he played it precisely, for the winning goal.
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he → play → goal
He goes quickly, takes people out of the way.
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He → go → way
Arsenal deserved all three points."
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Arsenal → deserve → points
Havertz said Odegaard was back to his "very best".
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Odegaard → say → best
"He's an unbelievable player - we have seen that over the last years," said the Germany forward.
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forward → see → years
"He's going to help us a lot this season."
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He → go → us
Sutton said Arsenal are still ahead of the rest, despite their rivals spending hundreds of millions of pounds during the transfer window.
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rivals → say → window
"They're such a powerhouse," said the former Blackburn and England striker.
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striker → say → ?
"Chelsea are a good team, but Arsenal always find a way to win.
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Arsenal → find → way
Can you stop Arsenal?
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you → stop → Arsenal
I don't think they [other Premier League teams] can."
Arsenal have won their opening three games of a top-flight campaign while conceding fewer than two goals (1) for the third time - after 1924-25, when they finished 20th, and 2003-04, when they went the season unbeaten.
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they → think → season
They have also won eight league games in a row stretching back to last season.
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They → win → season
Having seen off big-spending Chelsea, their next league match is at Sunderland on Saturday.
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match → see → Saturday
Before that Arsenal launch their Champions League campaign at Napoli on Wednesday.
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Arsenal → launch → Wednesday
Havertz said Arsenal will head to Italy with confidence high with after seeing off his former club Chelsea.
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Arsenal → say → club
"Chelsea have an amazing squad, but so do we," said Havertz, who scored the winning goal for the Blues against Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final.
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who → have → final
…and 2 more, not listed.
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