LONDON — Arsenal and Chelsea placed on a present in North London on Sunday, with the Premier League giants going toe-to-toe in an exquisite early-season spectacle.
MORE — Arsenal v Chelsea recap | Player ratings
So many intriguing tactical tweaks occurred as Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea an early lead however Arsenal roared again with objectives from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard to take the lead.
The Gunners at the moment are 10 video games unbeaten in opposition to Chelsea within the Premier League, however this win was up within the air till the top.
MORE — Xabi Alonso reaction | Mikel Arteta reaction
Shut pals Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso embraced on the closing whistle after masterminding an enthralling sport.
Right here’s a take a look at what we realized from Arsenal vs Chelsea.
Havertz’s intelligent positioning shifts sport in Arsenal’s favor
Havertz began up entrance centrally for Arsenal however he mainly performed proper wing for lots of this sport. He drifted out vast to create overloads and it unnerved Chelsea at a pivotal level of the sport within the first half. He scored the essential equalizer with Arsenal properly on high. Havertz began on the appropriate, drifted inside and Chelsea’s again 5 left it to one another as a result of they weren’t positive who was choosing up an out-of-position Havertz. Apart from that medical end he dummied the ball completely for Odegaard’s objective and arrange a giant likelihood for Saka with one other scrumptious flick. Havertz is having an exquisite time with the liberty to roam in assault. He has been ready for this opportunity to play his pure sport at Arsenal and eventually seems match and sharp to persistently hyperlink up play, maintain assaults, and do injury. The German obtained a standing ovation when he got here off in the direction of the top and that mentioned all of it. Havertz has all the time been an excellent participant however he’s now one of many first names on Arsenal’s group sheet.
Havertz blasts Arsenal again on degree phrases
The previous Chelsea man exacts revenge on his previous membership as Kai Havertz cuts inside and features up a shot that beats Emiliano Martinez to make it 1-1 on the Emirates.
Chelsea’s set piece creativity will probably be key
No Premier League group has scored extra set-piece objectives than Chelsea this season, with 4 in three video games. That’s no coincidence. They employed set-piece guru Austin MacPhee from Aston Villa over the summer time and he’s already working wonders. Rogers’ volley for the opener was a factor of magnificence, however it was all in regards to the positioning. Alonso sat down to permit MacPhee to make use of the technical space to arrange the free kick. He positioned Chelsea’s gamers in two bunches and had Rogers and Palmer floating across the fringe of the field to profit from any knockdowns. It labored a deal with. Chelsea additionally typically left 4 gamers up for Arsenal’s corners, which precipitated the Gunners issues and meant they weren’t as harmful from these conditions because of worries about being countered by the Blues. These are the small margins which can assist Chelsea change into no less than high 4 contenders this season.
Rogers drills Chelsea in entrance of Arsenal
Who else however Morgan Rogers to open the scoring for Chelsea in opposition to Arsenal within the opening minutes of the London derby on the Emirates.
The chew is again on this rivarly
When you could have England teammates Morgan Rogers and Declan Rice squaring up late within the sport and going at it, you realize this rivalry is again. There was actual spice and stress to this sport from the beginning. That was simply within the stands. “Champions of Europe, you’ll by no means sing that!” sang the Chelsea followers within the away finish as inflatable Champions League trophies had been waved round. “Champions of England, we all know what we’re!” sang the Arsenal followers in response. It hasn’t been this fashion for just a few years with Arsenal clearly on high and in one other league than Chelsea. However Xabi Alonso’s appointment at Chelsea has already seen them shut the appreciable hole a bit and they’re going to get nearer to Arsenal over the subsequent 12 months. Chelsea proved why many imagine they would be the primary contenders to Arsenal for the title this season. Arsenal additionally gained convincingly sufficient to point out why they’re nonetheless the red-hot favorites to win all of it.
Odegaard tucks away Arsenal’s second v. Chelsea
It is a ravishing group objective from Arsenal after Kai Havertz’s dummy opens the door for Martin Odegaard to fireside the Gunners 2-1 in entrance of Chelsea.