Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea PLAYER RATINGS: Who ‘controlled the game’ for the Gunners? Which player played ‘a big part’ in the hosts’ win? And who do Chelsea need ‘more magic in these massive matches’ from?
Arsenal have made an early statement in the season after beating Chelsea 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners fell behind to an early Morgan Rogers strike but battled back through Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.
Daily Mail Sport’s ISAAN KHAN (Arsenal) and KIERAN GILL (Chelsea) ran the rule over the players.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1)
David Raya – 7
Had to be alert with Chelsea so dangerous on the counter-attack. Goalframe struck by Pedro Neto in the first period. Top save to deny Estevao on 89 minutes.
David Raya made a fantastic save late in the second half to prevent Estevao from equalising
Ben White – 6.5
Good intricate passes on the right flank which caused problems for the opposition. Hard to control.
Ezri Konsa – 6.5
Hit a post in an early scramble in the box. Caught out at times on Chelsea on breakaways. Getting used to his team-mate Gabriel.
Gabriel – 7
Kicked Emi Martinez’s face in the area when going for the ball early on. A physical display and kept going.
Riccardo Calafiori – 7
Thought he scored on 12 mins after bundling the ball home – but Konsa was offside. His unorthodox positioning is very hard to keep tabs on.
Riccardo Calafiori, left, produced another solid display at left back for Arsenal on Sunday
Declan Rice – 7.5
Such an engine to keep going from one box to the other in a frantic game. Harried the opposition and set the tone.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7
Calm in receiving the ball in tight spaces. Kept looking to get the ball forward when in possession.
Bukayo Saka – 7.5
A constant threat. Drove forward with real venom. Utilised his ability of either going straight towards goal or heading to the byline to cross.
Martin Odegaard – 8.5
Controlled the game for Arsenal and struck with a goal, too. Leader’s display. Clever free-kick across the floor on five minutes nearly caught Chelsea out.
Martin Odegaard scored the winning goal with this strike early on in the second half
Christos Tzolis – 8
Executed multiple accurate, low crosses into the area which Arsenal should have profited more from. A handful to deal with.
Kai Havertz – 8
After a few tame shots, his goal to equalise was a proper striker’s finish. A number of his intricate flick-ons led to chances. Played a big part.
SUBS
Piero Hincapie – 6.5
Got stuck in and kept looking to lay down a mark in his tackles.
Martin Zubimendi – 6.5
Good defensive coverage. Snapped at the heels of the opposition.
Viktor Gyokeres – N/A
Mikel Merino – N/A
SUBS NOT USED: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Bruno Guimaraes, Max Dowman, Eberechi Eze
MANAGER: Mikel Arteta – 7.5
His team dominated throughout. Scoreline could’ve been wider on another day.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)
Emiliano Martinez – 5.5
Welcomed to the Emirates with a kick to the head from Gabriel. Had Robert Sanchez conceded Kai Havertz’s equaliser, he’d have been slaughtered by his critics. No stopping Martin Odegaard when through.
Emiliano Martinez suffered a blow to the face during a difficult return back to the Emirates
Josh Acheampong – 6
Had help from Pedro Neto, who was dropping deep to provide extra protection on the right-hand side. Chelsea’s academy graduate tried and failed to stop Christos Tzolis from moving inside for Arsenal’s second goal.
Wesley Fofana – 5
Havertz’s dummy from Tzolis’s pass inside totally fooled Fofana as the ball rolled on to Martin Odegaard, with the unmarked Arsenal captain making it 2-1 with only Martinez to beat.
Maxence Lacroix – 5.5
Havertz’s crack for 1-1 crept through his legs before beating Martinez. Someday Chelsea might keep a clean sheet. But they still need to do a great deal of tightening up at the back first.
Jorrel Hato – 5.5
Often tasked with trying to tie down Bukayo Saka. Sometimes the only solution was to foul him. One such free-kick led to Arsenal scoring – but the offside flag saved Chelsea that time.
Jorrel Hato, right, endured a difficult afternoon trying to contain the threat of Bukayo Saka
Reece James – 6
Swerving strike from 25 yards forced David Raya into a nervy save. Sprayed long passes wide with precision. Captain tried to add control into the centre, but Chelsea continue to resemble chaos.
Romeo Lavia – 6
With Moises Caicedo sidelined, Lavia lasted an hour. When replaced by Malo Gusto, Chelsea were left with two right backs manning the midfield. Not ideal for Alonso after losing Enzo Fernandez.
Pedro Neto – 6
Lived for counter-attacks, striking the post from one such fast break before half-time. When Arsenal had possession high up the pitch, Chelsea had a back six, with Neto dropping to fill in on the right.
Cole Palmer – 5.5
Chelsea need his magic more in these massive matches. Biggest involvement was taking one for the team – a yellow card as he killed an Arsenal counter-attack.
Cole Palmer quiet by his standards – in a match that Chelsea needed more from their playmaker
Morgan Rogers – 6.5
Arsenal wanted him. Chelsea won him. Then he scored the opener after 77 seconds, a controlled volley from 18 yards giving Mikel Arteta a snapshot of what he could have had.
Joao Pedro – 6
Cautioned early on for kicking the ball away ever so slightly – back to that approach now, are we, refs? – and frustrated when fouls on him weren’t being called. Lonely job up top at times.
SUBS
Malo Gusto (for Lavia, 60) – 6
Curled over one chance within seconds of his introduction into the midfield.
Pep Chavarria (for Hato, 60) – 6
Hato sprinting up and down the left-hand side was tiring, so Chavarria took over.
Estevao Willian (for Neto, 81) – N/A
Danny Welbeck (for Rogers, 87) – N/A
SUBS NOT USED: Mike Penders, Valentin Barco, Levi Colwill, Jamie Gittens, Geovany Quenda
MANAGER: Xabi Alonso – 5.5
Scored early again. Allowed the opposition to pile on the pressure again. Conceded again. Chelsea are craving some control in their games.
