Three Wins From Three as Arsenal Overturn Early Deficit to Beat Chelsea
In comments delivered following the final whistle at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and forward Kai Havertz reviewed the club’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea. The result secures three wins from three matches to open the Premier League campaign for the North London side.
Arteta addressed the team’s response after conceding an early goal, highlighting the tactical discipline required to manage Chelsea‘s attacking threats while maintaining control over the match.
Arsenal
clubMikel Arteta Evaluates Arsenal Recovery and Defensive Control
Asked about his side’s reaction to falling behind in the opening stages of the derby, Arteta detailed the shift in performance required to turn the fixture around.
“It wasn’t the right start but we certainly reacted in an amazing way. I enjoyed the way we competed; we took risks, it was a joy to watch and an incredible game. They have a great coach who can set them up in great condition. With the quality you have, you feel they can create something out of nothing at any moment. We constrained them well. Overall, it was an incredible performance from our side.”
The victory keeps Arsenal perfect at the top of the Premier League table through three fixtures, having conceded just one goal across the opening month of the season. Controlling Chelsea’s space limited high-quality transition opportunities, allowing Arsenal’s midfield structure led by Martin Odegaard to establish territorial dominance and dictate the tempo in possession.
Chelsea
clubKai Havertz Details Tactical Turnaround and Martin Odegaard Form
Forward Kai Havertz, who scored against his former club to help secure the result, outlined the squad’s internal mindset after falling behind early in the first half.
“They have strong players. They have an amazing squad but so do we. We knew it was going to be tough and it’s going to be a tight game. They scored early, so it’s not easy for us but we believed in ourselves and changed the game around.”
Havertz’s finished effort found the net through a defender’s legs, capping off a dynamic offensive sequence built on central combination play. The win preserves Arsenal’s defensive momentum while demonstrating multi-dimensional scoring paths against compact opposition systems.
Arsenal’s comeback ended a 14-game Premier League run without a victory when trailing to Chelsea, marking the first time the club has successfully overturned a deficit against the Stamford Bridge side since October 2011.
All quotes were provided to BBC Match of the Day.