Midway through the second half at the Emirates Stadium, Martin Ødegaard collected the ball on the inside of the 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 keeper Emiliano Martínez. The goalkeeper managed to parry the effort away from the post, but the fluid sequence was emblematic of how Arsenal, now sitting on maximum points after three consecutive victories, are beginning to reap the rewards 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 how the Gunners would cope with their physical presence. The narrative seemed to confirm itself when Rogers stunned the crowd with a goal just 77 seconds after kickoff, silencing the Emirates for a brief moment. Yet Arsenal quickly recovered their composure, demonstrating that their own offensive unit can dictate the tempo even when faced with high‑profile opponents. Rogers was one of three summer signings – alongside Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez – who slipped past Arsenal's defensive net during the transfer window.
Despite missing those marquee names, the North London side still possess the tools required to elevate their game. The crucial factor, as Mikel Arteta has repeatedly stressed, is simply having their best attackers available. Injuries have robbed the club of this luxury for much of the previous two campaigns, but this weekend marked the first occasion since December 2024 that Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka started three league matches in a row. The partnership between Ødegaard and Havertz proved decisive.
After a patient build‑up, Havertz dummyed a defender, allowing Ødegaard to glide into the box and finish calmly, securing the winner. Earlier, Havertz had equalised with a precise strike from the edge of the area, placing the ball at Martínez's near post. Their combined contribution underscored why Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville hailed them as Arsenal's two standout performers after they were substituted to a chorus of applause.
Saka, too, made a strong impression, repeatedly cutting in from the right and earning a standing ovation for his relentless work rate in the second half. The clamor for Arsenal to sign a high‑profile forward is understandable. The club's recent, albeit unsuccessful, pursuit of a marquee striker shows that the hierarchy recognises a need for additional firepower. In an ideal scenario, a world‑class signing would lead the line and relieve some of the pressure on the existing trio.
However, the team can mitigate this shortfall by keeping Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka healthy and fit. When these three men remained injury‑free throughout the 2023/24 season, Arsenal recorded a club‑record 91 Premier League goals, a testament to the potency of their combined output.
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 finish mirrored a similar effort in the Community Shield, illustrating his newfound willingness to arrive late in the box.
Arteta highlighted the transformation, noting, "He's fit, and confidence-wise I think it's one of the highest that I've seen him. 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." Chemistry between the three attackers is another pivotal element. Against Chelsea, Ødegaard provided Saka with ten assists and Havertz with seven, revealing a deep understanding that extends beyond the ball. Off‑the‑ball movement, particularly Havertz's intelligent runs, creates space for his teammates. Ødegaard praised Havertz to Sky Sports, saying, "He's a really smart player and moves so well.
He draws defenders' attention, and when I make a run from behind, I'm often left free." Arteta echoed this sentiment, adding, "When you start to feel the chemistry they have between them and what they can produce, it's great. 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 become an all‑round asset.
He contributes as an aerial threat, a runner in behind, a link‑up player for the midfield, and a tireless workhorse pressing the opposition. Jamie Carragher, another Sky Sports pundit, remarked, "To displace Havertz from this team, you need to be one of the best players in the world." Collectively, the trio have accounted for all six of Arsenal's goals after three Premier League games, yet the victory over Chelsea also highlighted the team's collective dynamism.
Compared with the more rigid displays against Coventry and Aston Villa, Arsenal appeared noticeably fluid in the final third. Havertz frequently drifted to the right, Saka interchanged centrally or swapped flanks with Christos Tzolis, and Riccardo Calafiori roamed across the attacking line, adding layers of unpredictability. Arteta summed up the evolution, telling Sky Sports, "It was another layer – 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 Arsenal's movement.
Even before Havertz's second goal, the Gunners repeatedly penetrated the back line, exploiting the right half‑space where Ødegaard and Saka excel. Their quick interchanges and diagonal runs left the Blues' defence disorganised and unable to establish a coherent shape. Looking ahead, the primary challenge for Arteta will be to preserve the fitness of his attacking core.
The spate of injuries that plagued the club over the past two seasons remains a lingering concern, and fans may once again yearn for a blockbuster signing to provide depth. For now, however, Arsenal can revel in the form of their existing stars.
With Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka leading the charge, the club has a potent attacking trio capable of competing at the highest level, even without a high‑profile new acquisition.