Midway through the second half at the Emirates Stadium, Martin Ødegaard collected the ball on the inside‑right flank and slipped a perfectly weighted pass to Kai Havertz. Havertz’s deft flick set the pace for an on‑rushing Bukayo Saka, whose low drive tested Chelsea keeper Emiliano Martínez. Martínez managed to deflect the effort around the post, but the fluid sequence was emblematic of the way Arsenal have begun to operate when their three most creative forwards are all available. After a third consecutive victory, the Gunners sit on maximum points and are clearly reaping the rewards 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 – Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer – and the question of how Mikel Arteta would contain them. The early moments seemed to confirm the anxiety: Rogers struck a thunder‑bolt of a goal after just 77 seconds, silencing the crowd.
Yet Arsenal quickly regained composure and used the episode to underline their own attacking credentials. The three forwards who slipped away in the summer – Rogers, Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez – were all high‑profile targets, but the Gunners have demonstrated that they can still produce a high‑level offense without those marquee names. The secret, as Arteta has repeatedly stressed, is simply to keep the best attackers fit and on the field – something that injuries prevented for much of the previous two campaigns. This fixture marked the first time since December 2024 that Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka started three league games in a row together.
Their chemistry was on full display: Ødegaard’s vision and Havertz’s movement combined for the decisive goal, with Ødegaard calmly slotting home after Havertz’s dummy opened a lane. Earlier, Havertz had levelled the score with a precise finish from the edge of the box, directing the ball to the near post where Martínez could only watch it sail in.
"They have been Arsenal's two best players," Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville said when the duo were substituted to a roar of applause. Saka, who had been a constant threat down the right wing, also earned a standing ovation for his relentless runs and incisive play in the second half.
The demand for a high‑profile forward remains understandable. Arsenal have made several attempts to sign a marquee striker, but so far those pursuits have not materialised. In an ideal scenario the club would welcome a world‑class number nine to lead the line, yet the current reality shows that maintaining the fitness of Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka can partially offset that shortfall.
When the trio stayed together for an entire season in 2023/24, Arsenal recorded a club‑record 91 Premier League goals, underlining the potency of their partnership. Ødegaard, in particular, has rediscovered a goal‑scoring touch that was missing last season. The Norwegian captain, who managed only a single goal in 36 appearances the year before, now boasts three winners in the first four league games.
His recent finish mirrors a similar strike he scored 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," Artetta noted.
"He also has a point to prove after missing so much football last season, and Bukayo the same. We missed many attacking players for long periods last year." The mutual understanding between Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka is another vital ingredient.
Against Chelsea, Ødegaard delivered ten passes to Saka and seven to Havertz, often exploiting the half‑space where the two wingers excel. Their interplay extends beyond the ball; Havertz’s intelligent off‑the‑ball runs create space for Ødegaard to exploit.
"He's a really smart player and moves so well," Ødegaard told Sky Sports about Havertz. "He draws defenders, and when I arrive from behind I'm often free." Artetta echoed this sentiment, saying, "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." Havertz, also on three goals in four matches, has become an all‑round asset – an aerial outlet, a runner in behind, and a link‑up player who works tirelessly for the team. Former defender Jamie Carragher praised him, stating, "To displace Havertz from this team, you need to be one of the best players in the world." The trio now account for all six of Arsenal's league goals after three games, but the victory over Chelsea also demonstrated a collective attacking effort, with contributions from Riccardo Calafiori, Christos Tzolis and other squad members. Compared with earlier wins over Coventry and Aston Villa, Arsenal displayed a higher degree of fluidity in the final third. Havertz frequently drifted to the right, Saka interchanged centrally or swapped flanks with Tzolis, and Calafiori made himself available across the width.
Artetta described this as "another layer of dynamism, of threat, of intent, of aggression in the attacking phase," noting that the team had clearly elevated its offensive shape. Chelsea struggled to cope with the constant movement.
Even before Havertz's second goal, Arsenal repeatedly penetrated the back line, especially in the right half‑space where Ødegaard and Saka thrive. The challenge for Artetta now is to keep his key players healthy. After two seasons plagued by injuries, fans may once again yearn for a blockbuster signing, but for the moment the club can revel in the output of the trio that has already taken the Gunners to the top of the table.
In summary, Arsenal's recent performances prove that a cohesive, fit attacking unit can compensate for the absence of a single marquee striker. Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka are leading the charge, delivering goals, creating chances and providing the kind of fluid, dynamic football that has propelled Arsenal to a perfect start to the season.
Their continued fitness and synergy will be crucial as the campaign progresses, offering fans a compelling alternative to the traditional big‑money signing while still delivering the excitement and results they crave.