Arsenal’s pedigree as defending Premier League champions confronted its first large check of the season, with the Gunners internet hosting title aspirants and massive spenders Chelsea on the third matchday.
It isn’t typically that video games constructed up with such hype and expectations dwell as much as their billing, however Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea definitely delivered on Sunday.
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Breathless action, sub-plots galore and a complete of 99 minutes and 35 seconds of edge-of-your-seat soccer drama.
We could solely be three rounds into the marathon 38-game Premier League season, however it was the primary actual check of the credentials for Arsenal and new-look Chelsea after their $473m summer outlay.
Listed here are 5 issues we discovered from the featured conflict on the Emirates.
Arsenal’s defence: Accidents? No downside
What do you get while you pit arguably the league’s meanest defence towards considered one of its most fun new assaults? The scoreline would possibly counsel it was an in depth sport, however in actuality, it wasn’t.
Chelsea did muster 13 pictures on aim, however eight of these got here from outdoors the field, and so they mixed for an anticipated objectives statistic of 0.35. The Blues had simply 25 touches contained in the Arsenal penalty space.
Of the 30 Premier League video games performed amongst all 20 groups up to now, Arsenal have now recorded three of the 4 lowest totals of anticipated objectives scored towards them.
Arsenal’s defensive prowess was much more spectacular within the absence of their first-choice defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, who performed a minimum of 30 video games every of their workforce’s title-winning run final season. Of their absence, defensive choices Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Ezri Konsa have all fared admirably.
In consequence, Arsenal have gained their opening three league video games this season whereas conceding fewer than two objectives for the third time ever.
They are going to hope the omens observe the 2003-04 season, after they completed as unbeaten champions, slightly than the 1924-25 season, after they finally ended up in twentieth.
Attacking from the flanks
With younger defender Jurrien Timber sidelined following groin surgical procedure, Ben White has crammed in at right-back within the opening three video games of the marketing campaign. He has additionally crammed Timber’s large attacking boots along with maintaining issues tight on the again.
A whopping 47 % of Arsenal’s assaults towards Chelsea got here down the proper flank occupied by White and Bukayo Saka.
As busy as Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis have been on the wings, solely 28 % of Arsenal’s assaults got here down their left flank, with solely 25 % coming by the center of the park, occupied by Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martin Odegaard.
Timber being again in full coaching and probably again in motion inside days is a lift to Mikel Arteta, however White’s type means the Gunners’ supervisor can afford to take his time in bringing Timber again into the fray.
Havertz and Gyokeres lead the cost
Solely David Raya, Gabriel and White have performed extra minutes for Arsenal throughout the opening three video games than Kai Havertz.
After back-to-back 90 minutes, the German got here off with 12 minutes remaining towards Chelsea, permitting Viktor Gyokeres his first minutes of motion within the league.
The Swede was closely linked with a transfer away from the Emirates within the switch window, however in the long run, teammate Gabriel Jesus made the switch to Barcelona as a substitute, and truly made his debut off the bench at Valencia at the very same time his former workforce have been internet hosting Chelsea.
Gyokeres understandably seemed rusty; a heavy early contact on the left flank allowed Maxence Lacroix the prospect to interrupt up an assault, however he warmed to the duty and produced an exquisite flick on midway to launch one other counter.
In the meantime, Havertz had 10 touches within the opposition field in 78 minutes, the primary time he’s reached double figures in a Premier League match since January 2025 – a run of 19 appearances. He additionally picked up his fourth aim towards his former membership in 9 appearances in league and cup, six of which have now led to Arsenal wins with the opposite three drawn.
Havertz clearly needs to maintain a grip on his beginning ahead function.
Odegaard’s affect grows
After a stellar World Cup run with Norway, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s renaissance has continued.
The 27-year-old might need lifted the Premier League trophy final Might, however his affect on the season as a complete was far much less apparent. He began simply 24 Premier League video games and performed a complete of 1,371 minutes – sixth amongst Gunners midfielders.
His aim towards Chelsea was, nevertheless, his third in 4 appearances throughout all competitions this season – this after netting simply as soon as in 36 outings final time period – and he as soon as once more proved the very important cog in Arsenal’s assault in a Participant of the Match efficiency.
Are Chelsea a pressure to be reckoned with?
Effectively, it definitely appears like a step in the proper path. On the proof of the opening three video games, a new-look Chelsea appear to be top-four contenders as soon as once more.
The Blues completed 9 locations and 33 factors adrift of Arsenal final season, however had it not been for a flying David Raya save from Estevao’s rasping late shot, they could have snatched a degree on the dwelling of the champions in simply their third sport underneath Xabi Alonso.
There are issues for the Spaniard to unravel as Chelsea have now gone 19 league video games and not using a clear sheet, and regardless of the attacking menace of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, they created an anticipated objectives tally of simply 0.35 throughout 90 minutes.
Nonetheless, Chelsea followers could be optimistic as they’re the primary workforce in Premier League historical past to attain contained in the opening 5 minutes in every of their first three video games of the season.
The five-time champions additionally confirmed innovation and bravado to nullify the specter of set-piece specialists Arsenal by limiting them to simply 5 corners in whole.
The Blues despatched 4 gamers upfield from their very own field earlier than the nook was taken, dragging Arsenal gamers with them and sending one man out to attempt to cost down the kick.
