Midway through the second half at the Emirates Stadium, Martin Ødegaard collected the ball on the inside of the right flank and slipped a perfectly weighted pass to Kai Havertz. Havertz's quick flick set the pace for a surging Bukayo Saka, who found himself one‑on‑one with Chelsea's keeper Emiliano Martínez. The goalkeeper managed to deflect the effort around the post, but the fluid passage of play illustrated exactly why Arsenal, now sitting on maximum points after a third consecutive victory, are beginning to feel the full benefit of having their three key attackers back 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 the question of how Mikel Arteta's side would cope with their physicality and pace. The script seemed to be written when Rogers, after just 77 seconds, stunned the crowd with a thunderous strike that sent the stadium into a brief hush. Yet Arsenal quickly regained composure, demonstrating that their own offensive unit can stand up to any challenge. Rogers joins a list of high‑profile forwards who slipped through Arsenal's summer net – alongside Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez – but the Gunners have shown that they possess the internal tools to raise their game even without those marquee names.
The essential factor, as Arteta has repeatedly stressed, is simply having the three best attackers available. Injuries over the past two seasons have often forced Arsenal to rotate or sit key players out, but this was the first occasion since December 2024 that Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka started a third straight Premier League match together. Their chemistry was evident from the opening whistle.
Havertz, after a patient build‑up, equalised with a crisp finish from the edge of the box, directing the ball to Martínez's near post. Later, Ødegaard collected a clever dummy from Havertz and calmly slotted home the winning goal, sealing a 2-1 triumph.
"They have been Arsenal's two best players," Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville remarked as the duo were substituted to a roar of applause. Saka, who had spent much of the second half attacking down the right wing, also earned a standing ovation for his relentless runs and incisive dribbling. The clamor for Arsenal to sign a new forward has been loud and understandable.
The club's recent attempts to bring in a marquee attacker have so far fallen short, underscoring the desire for a high‑profile signing to lead the line. Nevertheless, Arteta's pragmatic approach suggests that the team can partially offset that shortfall by keeping Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka fit and firing. When the trio stayed healthy throughout the 2023/24 campaign, Arsenal recorded a club‑record 91 league goals, a testament to the potency of this core. A notable development this season is Ødegaard's resurgence as a goal scorer.
The Norwegian captain, who managed only a single goal in 36 appearances last term, now boasts three strikes in his first four league outings. His latest effort mirrored a similar finish in the Community Shield, highlighting his increased willingness to arrive in the box. "He's fit, and confidence-wise I think it's one of the highest that I've seen him," Artarta said. "He also has a point to prove after missing so much football last season, and Bukayo the same.
We missed so many attacking players last season for long, long periods." The synergy between Ødegaard, Saka and Havertz is another cornerstone of Arsenal's recent success. In the Chelsea match, Ødegaard supplied Saka ten times and Havertz seven times, demonstrating not only his vision but also an intuitive understanding of their off‑the‑ball movements.
"He's a really smart player and moves so well," Ødegaard explained to Sky Sports about Havertz. "He draws defenders' attention. When he makes the run and I come from behind, I'm always free." Arteta echoed this sentiment, noting that the chemistry among the three has elevated the team's overall output. "When you start to feel the chemistry they have between them and what they can produce, it's great," he said.
"For me, he gets to that point because he's enjoying his football. And when you are there, you have to enjoy what you do, you have to play with real intent, and that's what I loved to see from him today. He was running forward, he took shots, he created so many situations for his teammates, so it was great." Kai Havertz, also on three goals in four matches, has proved equally vital. His all‑round contribution – acting as an aerial outlet, a runner in behind, and a link between midfield and attack – underscores his importance.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher summed it up succinctly: "To displace Havertz from this team, you need to be one of the best players in the world." Collectively, Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka have accounted for all six of Arsenal's Premier League goals after three games, yet the victory over Chelsea also highlighted the broader team effort. Compared with the more mechanical displays against Coventry and Aston Villa, Arsenal appeared markedly more fluid in the final third. Havertz frequently drifted to the right, Saka rotated centrally or swapped flanks with Christos Tzolis, and Riccardo Calafiori made frequent forays into dangerous zones, adding layers of dynamism.
Arteta described this as "another layer of dynamism, of threat, of intent, of aggression in the attacking phase". Chelsea, on the other hand, struggled to cope with Arsenal's constant movement. Even before the second goal, Arsenal repeatedly found space behind the Chelsea back line, exploiting the right half‑space where Ødegaard and Saka excel, creating persistent problems for the visitors.
Looking ahead, the primary challenge for Arteta will be maintaining the health of his attacking trio. The spate of injuries that plagued the previous two seasons could tempt fans to once again demand a blockbuster signing.
However, for the moment, Arsenal supporters can relish the quality already at their disposal. With Ødegaard rediscovering his scoring instincts, Havertz delivering consistent performances, and Saka providing relentless width and creativity, the Gunners have a potent nucleus capable of challenging for the title.
If this upward trajectory continues, Arsenal may not need a high‑priced marquee forward to compete at the summit. Instead, they can rely on the chemistry, fitness, and confidence of their existing stars, allowing the club to build on a record‑breaking goal tally and a growing sense of belief. The next few weeks will reveal whether this trio can sustain their form, stay injury‑free, and propel Arsenal back to the very top of English football.