Midway through the second half at the Emirates, Martin Ødegaard collected the ball on the inside‑right flank and slipped a clever pass to Kai Havertz. Havertz’s deft flick set off a surge by Bukayo Saka, who found himself one‑on‑one with Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez. The keeper managed to tip the shot wide of the post, but the fluid passage of play illustrated exactly why the Gunners, now sitting on maximum points after a third consecutive victory, are reaping the rewards of having their three‑man attacking trio back in action. Before kickoff the conversation had centred on Chelsea’s newly assembled front three – Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer – and how Arsenal would cope with their pace and power.
The early drama seemed to confirm those worries when Rogers struck a thunder‑bolt just 77 seconds in, silencing the crowd. Yet the visitors quickly regained composure and used the moment to showcase their own offensive strengths.
Rogers is one of several high‑profile forwards Arsenal missed out on during the summer, alongside Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez, but the club appears capable of compensating for those absences. The essential factor, as Mikel Arteta has repeatedly stressed, is simply having the best attackers available on the pitch – a luxury that injuries denied the team for most of the previous two campaigns. This match marked the first occasion since December 2024 that Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka have started three straight league games together, and the chemistry was evident. Ødegaard and Havertz combined for the decisive goal: after Havertz’s dummy created space, Ødegaard calmly slotted the ball home.
Earlier, Havertz had equalised with a precise strike from the edge of the box, directing the ball to the near post where Martínez could only watch it curl in. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville praised the duo, declaring them the two best players on the pitch after they were substituted to a roar of applause. Saka also shone, relentlessly attacking down the right wing and earning a standing ovation of his own in the latter stages of the half. The clamour for Arsenal to sign a marquee forward has been loud and understandable.
The club’s attempts to secure a big‑name attacker have so far come up empty, underscoring the recognition that a new signing could lift the side even higher. Nevertheless, Arteta’s message is clear: maintaining the fitness of Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka can partially offset the lack of a blockbuster signing. When those three men stayed healthy throughout the 2023/24 season, Arsenal smashed a club‑record 91 Premier League goals. Ødegaard, in particular, has rediscovered his goal‑scoring instinct.
The captain, who managed only a single goal in 36 appearances last season, now boasts three strikes in four league matches. His recent winner mirrors a similar effort in the Community Shield, highlighting his growing willingness to arrive late in the box.
Arteta noted the transformation, saying, “He’s fit, and his confidence is at one of the highest levels I’ve seen. He also has something to prove after missing so much football last season, and Bukayo the same. We lost many attacking players for long periods last term.” The understanding between Ødegaard, Saka and Havertz is another cornerstone of Arsenal’s resurgence. Against Chelsea, Ødegaard linked up with Saka ten times and with Havertz seven times, demonstrating not only his passing range but also his instinct for off‑the‑ball runs.
He praised Havertz’s intelligence, explaining, “He draws defenders’ attention, and when I make a run from behind, I’m often free.” Arteta echoed this sentiment, adding, “When you see the chemistry they have and what they can produce, it’s fantastic. He’s enjoying his football, playing with intent, making runs, taking shots and creating countless chances for his teammates.” Havertz, also on three goals in four games, has proven himself an all‑round asset – a reliable aerial outlet, a runner in behind, and a link‑up player who works tirelessly. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher summed it up: “To replace Havertz you would need one of the best players in the world.” Collectively, Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka have accounted for all six of Arsenal’s goals after just three Premier League fixtures, but the Chelsea game highlighted the broader team effort. Compared with the earlier wins over Coventry and Aston Villa, Arsenal displayed a more fluid final third: Havertz often drifted to the right, Saka rotated centrally or swapped flanks with Christos Tzolis, and Riccardo Calafiori made himself available across the attacking zone.
Arteta described this as “another layer of dynamism, threat, intent and aggression in the attacking phase,” noting how the Gunners repeatedly penetrated Chelsea’s back line, especially in the right half‑space where Ødegaard and Saka excel. Chelsea, on the other hand, struggled to cope with the constant movement, finding themselves repeatedly exposed to runs behind their defence.
The challenge for Arsenal now is to keep this core trio healthy. A spate of injuries over the past two seasons has left fans yearning for another high‑profile signing, but for the moment they can revel in the form of Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka, who are leading the charge and showing that a cohesive, fit attacking unit can achieve remarkable results without a single blockbuster addition.