Chelsea Asked Questions; Arsenal Answered Them All
Arsenal had the first test of their Premier League title defence on Sunday. The manner of their win over Chelsea will stand them in good stead.
Pre-match billing suggested Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League duel between Arsenal and Chelsea would be a tale of defence vs attack; the reigning champions vs the potential challengers to the crown.
While Chelsea gave a decent account of themselves at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal provided a timely reminder of how far ahead of their London rivals they truly are.
Chelsea made the journey across London having arguably caught the eye to a greater degree than any other Premier League team across the first two matchdays, at least from an attacking perspective anyway.
Under new coach Xabi Alonso and with a retooled frontline that’s seen Morgan Rogers link up with Cole Palmer and João Pedro, Chelsea scored seven goals across their first two games. Some of their attacking play had been exhilarating to watch, and the form of their front three set tongues wagging.
This was, according to the perceived wisdom, going to be the first examination of Arsenal’s title defence and a litmus test for how solid their defence would be in 2026-27. Let’s not forget, they are without William Saliba at centre-back and will be for a while.
To Chelsea’s credit, they came out swinging.
They were ahead within 77 seconds thanks to Rogers’ slightly scruffy – but crucially accurate – volley into the bottom-left corner.
Morgan Rogers goal vs Arsenal
Morgan Rogers goal vs Arsenal
And across the first half, Chelsea did cause Arsenal some problems.
They were quick in their transitions and put the Arsenal backline under pressure, forcing the Gunners into a game that had the potential to turn into chaos. That was hardly an ideal situation for control-freaks Arsenal, particularly given they were already trailing.
Chelsea had additional chances in the first half as well.
Rogers shot wide when he should’ve hit the target at the very least; Pedro Neto hit the post; and João Pedro was inches away from connecting with a Palmer cross that looked as though it needed just the slightest touch to be turned in. That last instance obviously had no xG attached to it as no shot was taken, but it was a moment of promise nonetheless.
Essentially, for a time, Chelsea made Arsenal play a game they didn’t want to play. But Mikel Arteta’s side showed they could.
Arteta’s Arsenal aren’t typically associated with expansive, fast football. Here, though, they seemed to embrace the frenetic nature of the occasion, and they didn’t look awkward.
Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis were direct and threatening out wide. Declan Rice charged forward often. Martin Ødegaard was involved almost constantly. Kai Havertz was influential and in the mood.
The first half was played with the intensity you expect (hope?) of a cup final, and the atmosphere became even more charged when Havertz cut in from the right and shot into the bottom-left corner of Emiliano Martínez’s goal – that was the ex-Chelsea forward’s fourth strike for Arsenal against his former side, more than he’s netted vs any other side in all competitions.
For all the promise Chelsea showed before half-time, they reached the break having managed just 0.12 expected goals from six shots. Had Chelsea’s star-studded attack met its match?
Well, they weren’t much more successful after half-time. They did at least remain something of a threat until the very last whistle, ensuring Arsenal couldn’t relax or take their slender lead for granted.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea xG shot map
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea xG shot map
But the closest Chelsea came to equalising was via a moment of magic late on from Estêvão, whose curling 20-yard effort was tipped over by David Raya. A necessary intervention from the goalkeeper, sure, though hardly a clear-cut opportunity. Had it gone in, it would’ve been difficult to argue it “had been coming”.
Of course, Ødegaard had put Arsenal in front earlier in the second half with the kind of goal just not associated with this modern Arsenal team – fairly or otherwise.
Tzolis’ pass in from the left was bound for Havertz, only for the German to show immense awareness as he stepped over it and allowed Ødegaard to race onto it before slamming beyond the helpless Martínez.
The idea that Arsenal are purely “corner merchants” is obviously an exaggeration (they haven’t scored from a corner this season), though for a long time the chief criticisms of them have revolved around the lack of excitement in their game. That can’t be said of their display on Sunday.
Despite the continued absence of Saliba, the full debut of Ezri Konsa and Chelsea’s feared front three, Arsenal remained solid at the back. They conceded just 0.39 xG against Chelsea, the fourth-lowest total in a single Premier League game for a team this season. Two of the three lowest are also attributed to Arsenal.
xG against by game over first three PL matchdays 26-27
xG against by game over first three PL matchdays 26-27
But they also created chances, played some quick and inventive football, and ultimately saw off the challenge of a team with ambitions of rivalling them.
It was a complete performance from Arsenal; the performance of champions, if you will. They were made to come out of their comfort zone. They were made to chase the game.
Chelsea asked questions, for sure, but Arsenal had the answers needed. They came out of the contest looking all the more ominous for it.
Premier League Opta Stats
Premier League Opta Stats