Reigning Premier League champions Arsenal have continued their momentum from last season, securing a 2-1 comeback victory against Chelsea in a high-stakes London derby on Sunday. The win marks a strong start for the Gunners, who have now collected nine points from their opening three fixtures while conceding only a single goal.
The match served as a significant test for Arsenal, who faced a Chelsea side that has invested nearly £350m in new talent since the conclusion of the previous campaign. Despite the financial disparity, Arsenal’s victory was secured by established stars Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, who both found the back of the net to overturn an early deficit.
The club’s summer transfer activity saw them spend nearly £200m on new recruits, though they ultimately failed to sign the elite forward they had targeted. Arsenal had monitored several high-profile options, including former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez—who moved to Atletico Madrid—as well as Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. Ultimately, Rogers joined Chelsea, while Barcola completed a move to Liverpool.
Despite these missed targets, the team has shown no signs of slowing down after securing their first league title in 22 years during the 2025-26 season. Following earlier victories against Coventry City and Aston Villa, the squad appears to be in dominant form. Reflecting on their performance, former Premier League winner Chris Sutton said Sport, “I can’t see anyone stopping Arsenal.” The report also notes that they came from behind to beat big-spending Chelsea 2-1 in a thrilling derby on Sunday – thanks to goals from two familiar faces, after wins over Coventry City and Aston Villa.
