Midway through the second half at the Emirates Stadium, Martin Odegaard picked up the ball in an inside-right position and threaded a pass towards Kai Havertz, whose flick allowed the onrushing Bukayo Saka to test Emiliano Martinez. The Chelsea goalkeeper managed to push his effort around the post. But the slick passage of play was one of many examples of how the champions, on maximum points after a third straight win, are feeling the benefits of having the trio available again.
Much of the focus ahead of the game had fallen on Chelsea's front three. How would Arsenal contain Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer? It seemed the script had been written when Rogers stunned the ground into silence after 77 seconds.
But Arsenal regained their poise and proved a point about their own attack. Rogers was one of three high-profile forwards to elude them during the summer along with Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez. But they may still have the tools to level up without them.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The key is simply to get their best attackers on the pitch, something injuries prevented for much of the last two seasons. This was the first time since December 2024 that Odegaard, Havertz and Saka have started a third straight league game together. Odegaard and Havertz made the decisive contributions, combining for the winner when the former finished coolly following the latter's dummy.
Earlier, Havertz had equalised with his precise finish at Martinez's near post from the edge of the box. "They have been Arsenal's two best players," said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville when they were substituted to loud applause. Saka wasn't bad either, tearing into Chelsea on the right and earning a standing ovation of his own later in the second half.
The clamour for Arsenal to add a forward was of course understandable. The club's efforts, although ultimately fruitless, showed they appreciate the need for it. In an ideal world they would have marquee signing leading them into this season.
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