Arsenal passed their biggest test so far in the defence of their Premier League title in style as they ​hit back from conceding inside two minutes to beat Chelsea 2-1 with captain Martin Odegaard ‌scoring the winner on Sunday (September 6, 2026).

Morgan Rogers volleyed the visitors ahead after ​77 seconds but Arsenal’s response was emphatic with Kai Havertz ⁠equalising after 25 minutes and Martin Odegaard finishing off a flowing move shortly after the break for the decisive goal.

Chelsea were never out of contention in an absorbing high-octane duel ‌and substitute Estevao was denied a late equaliser by a superb save from David Raya.

Victory left Arsenal level at the top with Manchester ‌City with both sides on a maximum nine points after three games. ‌Chelsea’s ⁠first dropped points left them on six.

Chelsea’s free-scoring start to the ⁠season under new manager Xabi Alonso had marked them out as potential title rivals to Arsenal and that still might well be the case.

But on Sunday (September 6), despite a dream start, they were ​overpowered by their London rivals, who ‌were clearly seeking to make a statement, and could have few complaints as their winless run against Arsenal stretched to 12 in all competitions.

Chelsea spent an extraordinary summer making 11 signings and selling 17 players as part of ‌yet another rebuild.

Arsenal’s close-season, on the other hand, has been one ​of stability and Mikel Arteta’s side have quickly found the rhythm that took them to their first title in 22 years.

They did ⁠concede their first goal of the season though, meaning promoted Hull City now boast the only perfect defensive record after three games of the campaign.

Rogers, a £117 million ($158.20 ‌million) signing from Aston Villa, swung his right foot at a dropping ball to place a shot past Raya.

The goal made Chelsea the first team in Premier League history to score inside the first five minutes of their first three games of the season and lit the fuse for a breathless opening period on a balmy afternoon in North London.

Arsenal thought they had levelled shortly afterwards ‌when Riccardo Calafiori bundled in after Ezri Konsa’s effort had come back off the post in ​a goalmouth scramble, but a VAR check adjudged Konsa to have been offside.

The hosts swarmed forward and Bukayo Saka was denied by ⁠Emi Martinez but Chelsea’s rearguard was punctured in the 25th minute when their former ⁠striker Havertz cut in from the right and his low left-foot shot crept in.

Chelsea’s counter-attacking style almost rewarded them in first-half stoppage time as ‌Pedro Neto’s shot hit the post.

Arsenal began the second half strongly and grabbed the lead when Christos Tzolis’s ball in from the left was ​dummied by Havertz and Odegaard planted a shot high into the net.

Aston Villa signed Brazil midfielder João Gomes on Monday (July 20, 2026), investing some of the money the Europa League winner is set to get for a British transfer record sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea.

Villa did not disclose the transfer fee it paid now-relegated Wolverhampton for the 25-year-old Gomes, which was reported to be 35 million pounds ($47 million).

Gomes arrives days after club record signing Johan Manzambi, who cost more than 50 million pounds ($67 million) from Freiburg after a stellar World Cup with Switzerland.

Gomes has played 10 times for Brazil though not for current coach Carlo Ancelotti. His last appearance was a World Cup qualifying game in March last year that Argentina won 4-1.

Also on Monday, Villa star Rogers was at Chelsea completing a 117 million pounds (USD 157.4 million) move after returning from the World Cup with England.

Villa coach Unai Emery will lead his team into Premier League and Champions League campaigns with major changes in midfield.

Youri Tielemans has left to join Manchester United, in a reported 35 million pounds (USD 47 million) transfer, and his Belgium teammate Amadou Onana will be out for months after rupturing an ACL at the World Cup in a 4-1 win over the United States.

United States-backed Villa’s profit on transfer dealings will help comply with financial monitoring rules after back-to-back years being fined by UEFA.

UEFA imposed financial penalties of 7.5 million euros (USD 8.6 million) last month and 11 million euros (USD 12.6 million) one year ago.

Villa should have earned about 40 million euros (USD 45.7 million) in UEFA prize money for its Europa League title win and can look to double that from Champions League games starting in September.

The club also will lose revenue next season by closing one end of Villa Park during construction work that will raise the capacity above 50,000 before hosting games at the 2028 European Championship.