Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League season with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on September 6, 2026, Softfootball reports.
Chelsea stunned the home crowd after just two minutes when newly signed Morgan Rogers produced a composed finish to give Xabi Alonso’s side an early advantage. Arsenal, however, refused to panic and gradually took control of the contest.
The hosts restored parity in the 25th minute through Kai Havertz, who rose superbly to meet Martin Odegaard’s perfectly weighted delivery and powered a header beyond Emiliano Martínez.
Arsenal completed the turnaround five minutes after the restart. Bukayo Saka delivered a precise cut back into the danger area, allowing captain Martin Odegaard to finish calmly and put Mikel Arteta’s side ahead for the first time.
Odegaard was Arsenal’s standout performer, earning an 8.5/10 rating after dictating the attacking tempo throughout the contest. The Norwegian registered seven key passes and four successful take-ons while constantly finding space between Chelsea’s midfield and defensive lines.
Havertz was also instrumental, combining his goalscoring contribution with an impressive defensive work rate during the second half.
Despite Chelsea’s strong opening, Arsenal ultimately finished the match with 54% possession, 15 shots and eight efforts on target, underlining their growing control as the game progressed.
The victory takes Arsenal to nine points from three matches, keeping them perfect at the top of the Premier League standings, while Chelsea remain on seven points despite Rogers’ early breakthrough.
Arsenal Player Ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| David Raya | 7.3 |
| Ben White | 7.3 |
| Ezri Konsa | 7.8 |
| Gabriel Magalhães | 7.2 |
| Riccardo Calafiori | 6.4 |
| Declan Rice | 7.8 |
| Myles Lewis-Skelly | 6.3 |
| Bukayo Saka | 7.3 |
| Martin Ødegaard | 8.5 |
| Christos Tzolis | 8.4 |
| Kai Havertz | 8.2 |
| Piero Hincapié (Sub) | 6.3 |
| Martin Zubimendi (Sub) | 5.8 |
| Viktor Gyökeres (Sub) | 6.0 |
| Mikel Merino (Sub) | 6.0 |
Chelsea Player Ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Emiliano Martínez | 7.6 |
| Josh Acheampong | 5.6 |
| Wesley Fofana | 7.0 |
| Maxence Lacroix | 6.4 |
| Pedro Neto | 7.0 |
| Reece James | 6.9 |
| Romeo Lavia | 6.5 |
| Jorrel Hato | 7.0 |
| Cole Palmer | 6.5 |
| Morgan Rogers | 7.8 |
| João Pedro | 6.3 |
| Pep Chavarría (Sub) | 6.1 |
| Malo Gusto (Sub) | 6.4 |
| Estevao (Sub) | 6.1 |
Team Stats
| Stat | Arsenal | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 15 | 13 |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 5 |
| Possession | 54% | 46% |
| Passes | 415 | 347 |
| Pass Accuracy | 86% | 83% |
| Fouls | 13 | 16 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 4 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 3 | 0 |
| Corners | 5 | 3 |
