Arsenal ended Chelsea’s perfect start to the Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to halt a calamitous start to the season. Morgan Rogers punished the champions in just 77 seconds before Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard turned the course of an absorbing London derby.
A slight knock for Levi Colwill meant Wesley Fofana was used instead. Moises Caicedo was missing, and Enzo Fernandez had gone to Manchester City, so Romeo Lavia and Reece James were back together in midfield.
The Blues registered 13 attempts but generated an expected goals figure of just 0.35, a disparity that reflects their afternoon of volume without genuine penetration. Here was how the visitors fared at north London, with a score out of 10.
Emiliano Martinez: 6.4
Argentine twice denied Bukayo Saka with authoritative interventions, both times impeccably positioned. However, Havertz’s angled drive beat him at his near post, a goal that carried a measure of bad luck. You could hardly blame him for Odegaard’s emphatic second-half finish.
Josh Acheampong: 5.8
The academy product created several dangerous deliveries and drove the ball purposefully on the overlap. But he accidentally played Havertz onside for Arsenal’s equaliser, a slip that proved decisive in the end. Arsenal’s incisive transitions sometimes exploited his inexperience in wide spaces.
Maxence Lacroix: 6.3
The Frenchman blocked Saka’s fierce attempt just after the restart and was impressive in containing Viktor Gyokeres late on. A cynical challenge on Tzolis saw him booked, and that seemed to curb his aggression for the rest of the game. He’s still the most assured defensive element in this Chelsea set-up.
Wesley Fofana: 5.8
The centre-back was on the left of the back three and cut out Ben White’s dangerous cross and cleared a succession of Arsenal set-pieces. But Havertz played a ball between the legs to release Saka in the second half. He also dangerously turned a corner towards his own goal.
Pedro Neto: 7.0
The Portugal international was Chelsea’s most dangerous outlet in transition and struck the base of the post before the break. His passes were all over the place, some incisive, some wasteful, throughout the match. Estevao was substituted for him with nine minutes remaining in regulation time.
Reece James: 6.0
The captain roared an effort from a distance that Raya needed two tries to gather safely. He nodded Havertz’s flick behind for the near post, cutting off the goalkeeper’s quick throw to Saka. But his delivery from set pieces was unusually wayward on several occasions. He was also at some fault for tracking back poorly and failing to catch Odegaard on that second goal.
Romeo Lavia: 6.9
The Belgian robbed Myles Lewis-Skelly halfway to create a promising opening for Joao Pedro. He provided decent balance in a crowded midfield and rarely gave the ball away cheaply. His substitution on the hour looked a little rushed, considering his poise in that zone, but fitness might have been the issue.
Jorrel Hato: 6.7
The Dutchman won the aerial battle and laid it into Rogers’ path for the opening goal. Arsenal’s attacks down that flank became more pointed and his defensive positioning against Saka increasingly fragile. Pep Chavarria came on for him after 60 minutes for just that reason.
Cole Palmer: 6.1
The playmaker set up Chelsea’s best counter-attacking moment with a lovely pass toward Joao Pedro at the back post. He was booked for a cynical foul on Havertz, and his shots were always straight at Raya. An afternoon of sporadic influence, peppered with wayward touches in advanced areas.
Morgan Rogers: 7.4
The record signing scored the best moment of the game with a superb volley in 77 seconds. He missed a presentable opportunity in the 31st minute and later shot over from distance. He also had to contend with a hostile farewell from the home supporters.
Joao Pedro: 6.5
The Brazilian was booked inside 14 minutes for kicking the ball away, an unnecessary indiscretion. His hold-up play and clever touch released Neto for the effort that hit the upright. An ambitious 45-yard effort went harmlessly wide of the goal.
Malo Gusto: 5.8 (subbed on for Lavia, 60′)
The full-back was deployed in central midfield beside James in a decidedly improvised arrangement. He dragged an effort from 25 yards well wide of Raya’s goal. His corner delivery was punched clear before the goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt.
Pep Chavarria: 6.0 (on for Hato, 60′)
Arsenal had repeatedly taken advantage of the left flank and had signed the Spaniard to help bolster it. He did his defensive duties dutifully, but lacked the real penetration going forward. His contribution was functional rather than transformational in Chelsea’s hunt for parity.
Estevao: 6.6 (on for Neto, 81′)
The Brazilian almost snatched a point with a curling effort that Raya acrobatically tipped over. His close control and stepovers troubled Piero Hincapie in a short but encouraging cameo. He also made a block on a Tzolis possession before sprinting the ball back for a restart.
Danny Welbeck: 6.0 (for Rogers, 87′)
As he walked out, the veteran striker was given a warm reception by fans of his old club. He didn’t have time to influence proceedings in a wild finish in north London. His introduction was Alonso’s last chance to get something out of the afternoon.