Arsenal shelled out close to £200m on new signings during the summer transfer window but fell short of landing the elite forward they craved. 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.
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. 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. 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.
A maximum nine points from three games, one goal conceded and big players stepping up. "I can't see anyone stopping Arsenal," former Premier League winner Chris Sutton told BBC Sport. Odegaard sinks Chelsea in London derby thriller Two right-backs in midfield - are Chelsea short despite £349m spent?
Odegaard and Saka star - player ratings for Arsenal v Chelsea 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. But Arsenal have set down an early marker as they chase back-to-back Premier League crowns. Along with Manchester City, they are one of only two clubs with a maximum nine points from three games.
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. Against Chelsea, they had to find a different way to win after £117m signing Rogers fired Chelsea into a second-minute lead. "Our mentality is to keep fighting.
We have shown that many times," said captain Odegaard, who scored the 50th-minute winner after Havertz had equalised before half-time. "We never want to concede early, but the reaction is top. We got our reward in the end and the response was brilliant.
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