Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove

MICK JAGGER might have been at Sunday’s pulsating London derby, but it was Chelsea who couldn’t get any satisfaction after champions Arsenal staged a superb comeback to prove to the billionaire moneybags that you can’t always get what you want.

North London hosted the match of the fledgling Premier League campaign so far, as both sides showed their quality in a pulsating early season clash that ended with Mikel Arteta’s defending champions underlining their character and class, while once again showcasing just why they lifted the title after 22 long years last term.

The Gunners recovered from falling a goal behind after £117m summer signing from Aston Villa, Morgan Rogers opened the scoring in the second minute for Xabi Alonso’s Blues.

Kai Havertz scored again, as the reigning title-holders made it three wins from three, leaving skipper Martin Odegaard to fire home the winner to beat London rivals Chelsea 2-1.

Speaking after the match, a delighted Arteta said: “It was a fascinating game I think for the spectators as well, and I think we deserved to win the game, which I’m really pleased with.”

Despite a challenging match at Villa for Arsenal’s new £34m summer signing from Bruges, Arteta opted for Christos Tzolis to keep his place on the left wing ahead of Eberechi Eze, while Myles Lewis-Skelly stayed in midfield alongside Declan Rice, with Bruno Guimaraes on the bench again.

With Arsenal 1-0 down, Riccardo Calafiori had the ball in the net on 15 minutes, but VAR correctly ruled new boy Konsa was in an offside position.

Undeterred Arsenal swept forward, with former Gunner Emi Martinez blocking Bukayo Saka’s fierce near-post shot shortly afterwards.

It was noticeable that, at an Arsenal corner on 20 minutes, Maresca’s tactic was to position two forwards on the halfway line, with Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro forcing a number of the Gunners’ players back — normally such a muscular presence at corners, thereby denuding the home side of its usual potency at such a dead-ball situation.

In a lively opening from both sides, James unleashed a fierce effort from 30 yards that was heading for the top corner. That was until the alert David Raya at full stretch parried the ball, before safely gathering the rebound. Moments later, Pedro was inches away from netting from Cole Palmer’s low ball into the box in a pulsating opening to this London derby.

That was before Havertz drilled in a low effort past former Arsenal keeper Martinez to level at 1-1.

The leveller coming after a neat interchange along the right flank between Rice, Saka and White, before Arsenal’s £105m midfielder fed Havertz, who cut inside before unleashing a low shot past wrong-footed Martinez, as the stadium erupted.

Yet, as we approached the half-hour mark, Chelsea kept attacking. Unsurprisingly given they could boast such riches in their attacking trident of Palmer, Pedro and Rogers, who started together again, with new signing, and former Gunners keeper Martinez continuing in goal on his return to north London.

Reece James returned to Chelsea’s starting line-up in one of two changes from their win over Brighton as the England man replaced Malo Gusto. Blues metronome Moises Caicedo was not in the squad having aggravated an injury off the bench last weekend, while Alonso’s other change saw Josh Acheampong picked ahead of Levi Colwill in the back three.

As the clock ticked towards half time, Rogers’ effort curled just the wrong side of Raya’s far post for Blues’ hopes, while Pedro drilled in a low, long-range effort that fizzed just wide.

However, the champions weren’t to be denied after the interval, with skipper Odegaard finishing with aplomb following a neat interchange, after a flowing move that included Havertz’s delightful dummy from Tzolis’ ball inside, as the Norwegian made no mistake to make the score 2-1 and complete a remarkable turnaround, as the stadium erupted in deep joy.

There was still time for the alert Gunners keeper to tip over the bar a long-range effort destined for the net from Chelsea’s Brazilian teenage talent Estevao, but the champions held on, much to the delight of the home support.