Arsenal show title-winning intent with comeback victory over Chelsea

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have demonstrated they are capable of reaching a higher standard than last season after recovering from an early setback to beat Chelsea 2-1 and preserve their perfect start to the Premier League campaign.

Chelsea took the lead after only two minutes when Morgan Rogers found the net, but Arsenal responded with an impressive attacking display. Kai Havertz equalised before Martin Odegaard completed the turnaround, securing a third successive league victory for Arteta’s side.

Arsenal had begun the season with wins against promoted Coventry City and Aston Villa, but Arteta regarded the result against Chelsea as a more significant indication of his team’s potential.

“I think it was an exceptional performance,” Arteta said. “I enjoyed every minute of it from the beginning to the end, and the beginning was tough.

“I enjoyed it because the team reacted in a spectacular way. The conviction, the determination, the quality that I intend to have them constantly, it was beautiful.”

The Arsenal manager believes the performance showed that his players can move beyond the level they reached during the previous campaign, provided they maintain the same hunger and consistency.

“It’s an indication for us of how capable we are to perform at an even higher level than last season, and it depends on how we maintain and sustain that desire,” he said.

Arsenal did not significantly strengthen their forward options during the transfer window. Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard all left the club, leaving Arteta with fewer established attacking choices.

However, Havertz, Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all made a strong impression against Chelsea, while new signing Christos Tzolis offered an additional threat from the wing.

Odegaard was particularly influential as he continued his return towards his best form after a disrupted previous season. Arteta said the Norway international had extra motivation following the amount of football he missed.

“Odegaard has a point to prove from last season after missing so much football,” Arteta said. “When that happens, Kai the same, Bukayo the same, we miss so many attacking players last season for long, long periods.

“I don’t know how many times they’ve played together those two in the last year or so, but probably not much, and when you start to feel the chemistry they have between them and what they can produce, it’s great.”

Arsenal are one of only two Premier League teams to have won all three of their matches, with Manchester City the other side to maintain a 100 per cent record.

The defeat ended the impressive beginning made by Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, although his team again showed attacking promise. Chelsea have now conceded seven goals in their opening three matches, leaving Alonso aware that improvements at the back are essential if they are to challenge consistently.

“We want to start having clean sheets, they will come,” Alonso said. “The players are committed to working hard, to knowing that we’re on the way to compete in each game.

“Not happy that we couldn’t get anything, but we need to keep calm and carry on.”

Arsenal’s next assignment comes in the Champions League on Wednesday, when Arteta’s side travel to Italy to face Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.