MANCHESTER, England — Arsenal passed the biggest test of its Premier League title defense so far by rallying to a 2-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday.
Martin Odegaard struck a 50th-minute winner at the Emirates Stadium after Morgan Rogers had given Chelsea an early lead.
Kai Havertz equalized in the first half for Arsenal, which has a 100% record after three games and moved level at the top of the standings with Manchester City.
“From start-to-finish it was a joy to watch our team play and compete. The threat we created, huge individual performances as well, the atmosphere inside the stadium was something great to witness,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
Manchester United 's difficult start to the season continued with a 2-2 draw at Everton, despite twice leading at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Statement win for Arsenal
Arsenal faced down the challenge of a Chelsea team that is expected to be among its main rivals for the title this season. And it was not only the result that will have sent out a message to the likes of Man City and Liverpool, but the nature of the win.
Chelsea got off to a perfect start when Rogers volleyed low from the edge of the area to beat David Raya in the second minute. But Arsenal produced the response of a champion by creating a slew of chances before Havertz fired into the corner in the 25th.
Odegaard's decisive strike came five minutes into the second half as he finished clinically from inside the box.
“It was a big massive game, a tough opponent, really hard for us against a really good team. It was a big fight and we got there in the end,” Odegaard said. “We always want to keep fighting and have showed that many times. Conceding early is never ideal, but our reaction was top, (we) could have scored some more goals and got our reward. I think it was a brilliant performance.”
It was the first defeat for new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, but his team pushed Arsenal all the way, with Raya producing an outstanding save to deny substitute Estevao from equalizing late on.
Pedro Neto also hit the post in the first half.
"It hurts, a defeat has to hurt," Alonso said. "I learned about the game, about us, what we are doing and starting, the players have this attitude, desire to compete better game-by-game to try to create something we believe in, to have this conviction.
“So far I’m happy knowing it’s a process, but we want to win games, that’s the ultimate goal.”
United stunned
Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck in added time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Everton against United.
The deadline day signing came off the bench to make his debut and curled a brilliant long-range shot into the top corner to salvage a point for his new club.
United twice led at Hill Dickinson Stadium through goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, who looked to have scored the winner in the 88th. But Everton had an answer on both occasions, with Tyrique George also scoring.
“Everybody wants to start off like that,” Maitland-Niles said. “The ball fell to me on the edge of the box. I put my foot through it, it ended up in the top corner, which I’m happy about.”
It was another setback for United, which has just one win from its opening three games of the season after a loss to Hull and victory against Ipswich.
Defensive frailties cost United again as it conceded two goals for the third game running.
Mbeumo fired United in front straight after halftime with a low shot into the far corner. George lashed in a near-post equalizer in the 83rd, but substitute Sesko headed United back in front.
The visitors were seconds away from three points when the ball broke to Maitland-Niles outside the box in the sixth minute of added time and his first-time shot left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens standing.
“We haven’t started the season that bad. It’s not that bad, we’ve got that close to coming away with three points today, that’s football,” United coach Michael Carrick said. “There are moments we can deal with a bit better, but we’ll be fine.
“We’re bitterly disappointed to be up in the position we were in the game twice, so close to the end.
“All the work that went into putting us in that position at different stages to then come away like that – it’s not a great feeling. It feels like a defeat."
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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