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The Premier League season is just three games old, but on Sunday we saw defending champions Arsenal make a real statement of intent. The bookies made the Gunners strong favourites to retain their Premier League crown before a ball was kicked. Due to a decent transfer window, and in particular the impressive form of their “JP Morgan” front three (Joao, Palmer and Morgan), Chelsea had emerged as perhaps Arsenal’s biggest rivals.
Many pundits had highlighted the Stamford Bridge side, who have the highly regarded Xabi Alonso in the dugout, as the side most likely to push the 2025/26 champions close this term. Both London giants won their first two Premier League games, and when Morgan Rogers gave the Blues the early lead at the Emirates, the notion that Chelsea could be genuine title contenders in 2026/27 began to seem even more credible.
That was the 10th goal involvement in three league fixtures for the Blues’ tricky attacking trio. They have issues at the back, but the addition of Emi Martinez in the window means they have a world-class goalkeeper who is also a winner, leader and organiser. And with their attacking triumvirate scoring and assisting at will, it is easy to understand why many have suggested they will be Arsenal’s main rivals this term. Chelsea also have the huge advantage of not being involved in Europe this term.
No New Striker, No Problem
Despite the huge outlay on new players at key rival clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester City, few doubt that Arsenal have the best squad in the Premier League. For a relatively low net spend this summer, they have added depth, class and a slightly different profile to their midfield with the acquisition of Bruno Guimarães. They also brought in another top-class defender in Ezri Konsa, as well as Greek wide man Christos Tzolis, who has instantly looked at home.
What they didn’t do, however, was add a bona fide superstar in attack. Fans wanted the club to make a statement signing, ideally in the shape of a striker or other attacking player who would bring 25+ goals per season to the squad. They had pursued, to varying degrees, Rogers, Bradley Barcola, Yan Diomande, Vinicius Jr., Julian Alvarez, Joao Pedro, plus others. For different reasons, none of those men made the move to the Emirates.
However, against Chelsea, Mikel Arteta’s side perhaps showed that the strongest squad in the Premier League, which still boasts plenty of attacking options, doesn’t need anyone else. They started the match against Chelsea with Bukayo Saka and Tzolis flanking Martin Ødegaard, with Kai Havertz as the focal point of the attack.
Havertz is a player who many managers have loved but fans have often been less impressed by. He was a young star at Bayer Leverkusen before Chelsea signed him. He did well for the Blues without ever fully convincing and moved to Arsenal in summer 2023. Since then it has been a similar story: the German international has done well but never really done enough to make himself undroppable. That may be changing this season.
Havertz has made a superb start to the current campaign. He boasts a very high football IQ and is technically superb and this explains why coaches and managers rate him. But he is now showing signs of adapting to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, as well as having the ruthless streak needed to impose himself.
He has three goals in four games for the club this term, after he scored just seven last season. Another player offering much better output this campaign is Ødegaard. The Norwegian looked off the pace for much of last season as he struggled with injury. Thus far in 2026/27, he is back to his brilliant best and is like a new signing for the Gunners.
Ødegaard netted once in 36 matches last term and six times in 45 in 2024/25. Like Havertz, he has scored three times already this term, also creating a lot of chances for those around him.
Fightback Continues Perfect Start
Havertz and Ødegaard played a big part in turning this game around for Arsenal, and they were their side’s scorers. Saka and Riccardo Calafiori were also key. It was Havertz who got the equaliser, scoring after 25 minutes, although Martinez will feel he could have done better.
Five minutes into the second half, Arsenal took a deserved lead, Ødegaard netting a fine goal following good work from Tzolis and a nice dummy from Havertz. Arteta has built a fine side and a better squad, and it seems that whoever comes in has the ability to link up with the rest of the team. That said, on this form, keeping Havertz and Ødegaard fit could be key to Arsenal’s chances in the Champions League.
They face a trip to Napoli on Wednesday evening as they bid to extend their perfect start to the season. Including their 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield, they have won four from four, scoring nine and conceding just one. They will take some stopping.