Arsenal passed their biggest test so far in the defence of their Premier League title in style as they hit back from conceding inside two minutes to beat Chelsea 2-1 with captain Martin Odegaard scoring the winner on Sunday.
The goal made Chelsea the first team in Premier League history to score inside the first five minutes of their first three games of the season and lit the fuse for a breathless opening period on a balmy afternoon in north London.
Morgan Rogers volleyed the visitors ahead after 77 seconds but Arsenal’s response was emphatic with Kai Havertz equalising after 25 minutes and Martin Odegaard finishing off a flowing move shortly after the break for the decisive goal. Chelsea were never out of contention in an absorbing high-octane duel and substitute Estevao was denied a late equaliser by a superb save from David Raya. They did concede their first goal of the season though, meaning promoted Hull City now boast the only perfect defensive record after three games of the campaign. The hosts swarmed forward and Bukayo Saka was denied by Emi Martinez but Chelsea’s rearguard was punctured in the 25th minute when their former striker Havertz cut in from the right and his low left-foot shot crept in. Chelsea’s counter-attacking style almost rewarded them in first-half stoppage time as Pedro Neto’s shot hit the post. Arsenal began the second half strongly and grabbed the lead when Christos Tzolis’s ball in from the left was dummied by Havertz and Odegaard planted a shot high into the net.
