Midway through the second half at the Emirates, Martin Ødegaard collected the ball on the inside of the right flank and slipped a clever pass to Kai Havertz. Havertz’s flick set up a rushing Bukayo Saka, whose low drive forced Chelsea keeper Emiliano Martínez to scramble the ball away from the post. The effort was only a narrow miss, but the sequence illustrated the fluidity that has returned to Arsenal’s forward line now that their three key attackers are all fit and available.
The Gunners, who sit on maximum points after a third consecutive victory, are reaping the benefits of having Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka together on the pitch. Before the match most of the pre‑game chatter centred on Chelsea’s newly assembled front three – João Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer – and whether Arsenal could contain their pace and power.
The early goal by Rogers, scored within 77 seconds, seemed to confirm the fear that Arsenal’s defence would be tested. Yet the home side quickly regained composure and demonstrated that their own attack can match, if not surpass, the threat posed by the visitors. Rogers was one of several high‑profile forwards Arsenal missed out on during the summer transfer window, alongside Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez. Despite those absences, the Gunners have shown they possess the tools to elevate their game.
The secret, as manager Mikel Arteta repeatedly stresses, is simply having his best attackers on the field – a luxury that injuries denied them for much of the previous two campaigns. This was the first occasion since December 2024 that Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka started three league games in a row. In the Chelsea encounter, Ødegaard and Havertz were directly responsible for the winning goal.
After Havertz’s precise strike from the edge of the box had levelled the scores, the Danish playmaker drifted into the box, received a dummy from Havertz and calmly slotted the ball past a diving Martínez. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville praised the duo, calling them Arsenal’s two best players of the match, while Saka earned a standing ovation for his relentless work on the right wing and his later involvement in the build‑up to the decisive finish.
The call for a marquee forward remains understandable. Arsenal’s pursuit of a high‑profile signing this summer fell short, leaving fans to wonder whether the squad can truly compete at the highest level without a proven goal‑scorer. Yet the club’s recent performances suggest that maintaining the fitness of Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka can partially offset that shortfall.
When the trio stayed healthy throughout the 2023/24 season, Arsenal smashed a club‑record 91 Premier League goals, a tally that underlines the potency of this core. A notable development is Ødegaard’s resurgence as a goal‑scorer. The captain, who managed only a single goal in 36 appearances last term, has already found the net three times in the opening four games of the new campaign. Arteta highlighted the transformation, noting the midfielder’s heightened confidence and his eagerness to prove a point after missing large portions of the previous season.
The Norwegian’s improved positioning – frequently arriving late into the box – mirrors the type of goal he scored in the Community Shield, confirming a new habit of getting into scoring positions. Chemistry among the three attackers is another key factor. Against Chelsea, Ødegaard supplied Saka ten times and Havertz seven, illustrating how their intuitive passing creates clear-cut chances.
Off‑the‑ball movement also plays a part; Havertz’s intelligent runs draw defenders away, creating space for Ødegaard to arrive unmarked. "He’s a really smart player and moves so well," Ødegaard told Sky Sports of Havertz.
"He takes defenders' attention. When he makes the run and I come from behind, I'm always free." Arteta echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the trio’s understanding elevates the whole side. "When you start to feel the chemistry they have between them and what they can produce, it's great," he said. "He enjoys his football, plays with intent, runs forward, takes shots and creates countless opportunities for his teammates." Havertz, also on three goals in four matches, has shown himself to be an all‑round asset – a target for crosses, a runner in behind, and a link‑up player who works tirelessly.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher remarked, "To displace Havertz from this team, you need to be one of the best players in the world," underscoring his importance. Collectively, Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka have contributed all six of Arsenal’s league goals so far, but the Chelsea game demonstrated that the attacking effort is a group endeavour. The Gunners displayed greater fluidity in the final third compared with earlier fixtures against Coventry and Aston Villa.
Havertz often drifted to the right, Saka interchanged centrally or swapped flanks with Christos Tzolis, and Riccardo Calafiori made frequent runs, adding an extra layer of dynamism. Arteta summed up the evolution: "Another layer of dynamism, of threat, of intent, of aggression in the attacking phase.
You have certainly seen that today." Chelsea struggled to cope with the constant movement; Arsenal repeatedly penetrated the back line, especially in the right half‑space where Ødegaard and Saka excel. The forthcoming challenge for Arteta is to keep this core healthy. The past two seasons were riddled with injuries that saw key attackers miss extended periods, prompting calls for a blockbuster signing. For now, however, Arsenal can relish the form of the trio that has already propelled them to the top of the table.
Their combined skill, work‑rate and mutual understanding may prove sufficient to sustain the club’s ambitions without the need for a high‑profile addition, at least in the short term.