<\/p>\n
Arsenal delivered an emphatic response to Chelsea\u2019s emergence as potential Premier League title contenders with a 2-1 win that ended their rivals\u2019 unbeaten start on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Mikel Arteta\u2019s side trailed to Morgan Rogers\u2019 second-minute goal in a pulsating London derby at the Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n
\ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n But the champions showed why they are firm favourites to retain the title with a blistering response to that early setback.<\/p>\n Kai Havertz bagged the equaliser against his former club midway through the first half and Martin Odegaard netted Arsenal\u2019s winner soon after the interval.<\/p>\n It was a statement of intent from second-placed Arsenal, who have won all three league matches to sit behind leaders Manchester City on goal scored.<\/p>\n The Gunners\u2019 mature display underlined their desire to win the club\u2019s first back-to-back titles since the 1930s.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the right start but we certainly reacted in an amazing way. I enjoyed the way we competed. We took risks, it was a joy to watch,\u201d Arteta said.<\/p>\n \u201cChelsea have a great coach who can set them up in great condition. We constrained them well. Overall, it was an incredible performance.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are very happy and we need to continue to raise the bar and look to improve every single time. We need to enjoy the victory because it was a big one today.\u201d<\/p>\n For Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, the defeat ended his three-game winning run in all competitions since taking charge at Stamford Bridge in the close-season.<\/p>\n Alonso will realise just how much work Chelsea still have to do before they are in position to end a title drought dating back to 2017.<\/p>\n Chelsea\u2019s shaky defence is prone to costly miscues, while their vaunted attack found it harder to flourish against Arsenal than in their free-scoring wins over Fulham, Luton and Brighton.<\/p>\n Arteta and Alonso have known each other since their days as childhood friends in the Basque region of Spain.<\/p>\n The chaotic matches of their youth on a gravel pitch in the Berio district of San Sebastian would have seemed calm in comparison to the blood and thunder their teams brought to a raucous corner of north London.<\/p>\n \u201cI learnt about the game, about us, about what we are doing, what we are starting,\u201d Alonso said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a process. It\u2019s still early days for us. We want to start having clean-sheets. They will come.<\/p>\n \u201cThe players are committed to working hard, to knowing that we\u2019re on the way to compete in each game. Not happy that we couldn\u2019t get anything but we need to keep calm and carry on.\u201d<\/p>\n Chelsea beat Arsenal in the race to sign Rogers from Aston Villa in the close-season after the Gunners refused to match the Blues\u2019 \u00a3117 million ($158 million) bid for the England midfielder.<\/p>\n Rogers showed why Chelsea made him the most expensive British player in history as he put the Blues ahead after just 77 seconds.<\/p>\n – Incisive Arsenal –<\/b><\/p>\n Arsenal\u2019s rock-solid defence had allowed just one shot on target in their first two games.<\/p>\n So often masters of the set-piece, Arteta\u2019s men were found wanting at a free-kick for once.<\/p>\n Reece James\u2019 lofted delivery wasn\u2019t cleared by Declan Rice or Odegaard, giving Rogers the chance to drive a low volley past David Raya from the edge of the penalty area.<\/p>\n It was the first goal conceded by Arsenal this season.<\/p>\n Having conceded five times in their first two league games under Alonso, Chelsea\u2019s three-man central defence remains flawed and they were exposed again in the 25th minute.<\/p>\n Havertz was allowed to drift from the right flank to the edge of the area unchecked by Jorrel Hato before the German smashed a low strike through the slow to react Maxence Lacroix\u2019s legs and past Emiliano Martinez at his near post.<\/p>\n Martinez was signed from Villa to replace the error-prone Robert Sanchez but the Argentine\u2019s weak attempted save was hardly an improvement on his hapless predecessor.<\/p>\n Pedro Neto was inches away from restoring Chelsea\u2019s lead just before half-time when the Portugal winger slapped his shot against the far post.<\/p>\n Where Chelsea were profligate, Arsenal have developed a ruthless touch in front of goal.<\/p>\n They exploited Chelsea\u2019s weakness at the back to net with a superb-crafted move in the 50th minute.<\/p>\n Christos Tzolis has made an impressive start following his close-season move from Club Brugge and the Greek winger\u2019s incisive pass sliced through the Chelsea defence to Havertz.<\/p>\n The German\u2019s clever dummy let the ball run through to Odegaard and he kept his composure to slot home from 10 yards.<\/p>\n Rogers\u2019 angry clash with Rice prompted mocking chants of \u201cyou should have signed for a big club\u201d from Arsenal fans.<\/p>\n Chelsea had chances to silence the taunts, but Malo Gusto blazed over from a good position before Estevao Willian\u2019s rocket was tipped over by Raya in the final minutes.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Anything is possible\u2019: Boss\u2019 high praise for Aussie teen; Spurs\u2019 woes continue in Ange Cup<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffAnge suffers \u2018frustrating\u2019 Saudi setback… as outraged star threatens to \u2018expose this league\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n