Arsenal secures victory over Chelsea in London derby
Arsenal extended their flawless start to the 2026/27 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, reports BritPanorama.
Xabi Alonso’s side made a blistering start, taking the lead through Morgan Rogers after just 77 seconds. However, the Gunners responded swiftly, with Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard both finding the net to secure all three points for the Premier League champions.
This defeat marked Alonso’s first since taking charge at Stamford Bridge, and it compounded Chelsea’s woes, as the club has now conceded seven goals across their opening three league fixtures.
Gary Neville offered a withering assessment of Chelsea’s defensive unit on his podcast, likening their disjointed play to limbs not connecting properly. He remarked, “The back three, when I watch them, it’s almost like their legs aren’t connected to their hips and the hips aren’t connected to their bodies. It’s almost like they’re a bit all over the place.”
He contrasted Chelsea’s performance unfavourably with the renowned Juventus back three of Barzagli, Bonucci, and Chiellini, who he considered the best he has ever seen due to their cohesive understanding of defensive tactics. Neville suggested that Alonso may need to recruit additional defensive reinforcements in upcoming transfer windows.
Despite being without one of their key players, William Saliba, Jamie Carragher noted that Arsenal’s defence appears formidable. He indicated that opposition teams are finding it increasingly difficult to breach Arteta’s backline. “The worrying thing for everybody else already is that Saliba, who is genuinely world-class, arguably probably the best centre-back in world football, has not played a minute of football so far this season,” Carragher stated.
Arsenal’s ability to maintain solid defensive performance without Saliba highlights the depth that manager Mikel Arteta has developed within the squad.
After the match, Alonso acknowledged the necessity for improvements, stating his team must become “tighter, more clinical, more balanced” while urging patience as he continues to settle into his role, noting he has only been in charge since May.
In a sport where perceptions can shift swiftly, the narrative around Chelsea will need careful recalibration in the coming weeks, as they seek to turn their season around. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s resounding start is breathing new life into the title race, adding a rich layer of intrigue to a competition already brimming with drama.
