Arsenal made an early statement in the Premier League title race as they edged Chelsea in a thrilling London derby. The Blues opened the scoring in the very early stages as Morgan Rogers volleyed home with just less than two minutes played. But Chelsea were pegged back soon after as Kai Havertz slotted into the bottom corner from the edge of the area, catching Emi Martinez wrong-footed.
Martin Odegaard then finished emphatically from close range, capping a lovely team move, to put the Gunners in the lead for the first time, a lead which they would eventually convert into three points. Chelsea were not without chances, though, as they went frustrated by a number of stellar saves from David Raya and crucial defensive contributions from Gabriel.
The Blues had been widely tipped as title contenders coming into this game, but the defending champions Arsenal made no mistake as they showed their might once more. Catch up with the game as it happened below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri and Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal vs Chelsea latest news
- GOAL! Odegaard powers Gunners in front
- GOAL! Havertz beats Martinez at near post
- GOAL DISALLOWED! VAR denies Calafiori leveller
- GOAL! Rogers opens scoring with first touch
- How to watch: Sky Sports
Arsenal player ratings: Summer signing and goalscorer impress as star man scores 9/10
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Meanwhile, our Arsenal correspondent Matt Verri had a bit more fun with his ratings.
He also got to write down some bigger numbers.
There was a nine, a couple of eights, a handful of sevens...
Chelsea player ratings: Three summer signings score 4/10
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Our Chelsea correspondent Dom Smith was on hand at the Emirates to rate the Blues’ performances.
He wasn’t overly impressed with some of the showings...
MATCH REPORT: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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A frustrating outing for Chelsea, a bracing one for Arsenal. Catch up with all the action below with Standard Sport’s match report!
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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That does it! The Gunners see it out!
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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Into the final seconds now...
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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90+2mins: Estevao stands firm to deny Hincapie a chance to cross. He wins a goal kick for the Blues, which Martinez pumps forward.
Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium
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Stunning save from Raya. Arsenal dropping deep and Chelsea are piling on the pressure as four minutes of added-time are announced. Chelsea getting the ball into the box but the Gunners are a very big team.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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90mins: Madueke replaces Saka for the hosts as four minutes of added time are confirmed.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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89mins: WHAT A SAVE! David Raya has a serious claim to be man of the match here. Estevao cuts in and whips a wonderful shot towards the far corner, but Raya just gets fingertips to it. Superb.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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88mins: James is sizing up a free-kick, about 35 yards out. He shoots and rattles the wall, leaving Declan Rice in a heap on the floor.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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87mins: Another role of the dice for Chelsea as Morgan Rogers is replaced by Danny Welbeck, who delivers a handwritten note to captain Reece James.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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84mins: For all the animosity, Rogers is the only man booked.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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England teammates Morgan Rogers and Declan Rice having a right good go at each other here. "DON'T DO THAT", yells Rogers at Rice, who appeared to clip the heels of the Chelsea man.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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83mins: Palmer nicks the ball of Rogers’ toes and breaks into the box, shooting over.
Off the ball, Rice lost step with Rogers and tripped the Chelsea man, who is absolutely incensed. Handbags ensue.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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81mins: Alonso plays his hand. Estevao comes on for Neto.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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80mins: Water is wet, grass is green, Raya catches Gusto’s corner.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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79mins: Joao Pedro does well to win Chelsea another corner.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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77mins: And here are those changes. Odegaard and Havertz make way for Merino and Gyokeres, who makes his first appearance of the season.
Looks like Chelsea are hesitating to bring on Estevao.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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77mins: Yet again, Raya comes to claim Neto’s cross. He’s been imperious today - absolutely dominated his box.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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75mins: Wow! James sends a piledriver of a shot towards Raya’s goal, but Gabriel blocks it with a superb diving header! That is valiant stuff from the Brazilian.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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75mins: Konsa turns Gusto’s cross behind for a corner.
Estevao and Gyokeres are being readied to come on for either side.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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Chelsea struggling to contain Arsenal at present, but Malo Gusto has offered some energy in midfield since coming on. The Blues finding it difficult to make it pay when they nick the ball in recent minutes.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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71mins: Arsenal’s passing in tight spaces is incredibly impressive. The corner is taken short, but the Blues just cannot get near them as they knock it around on the edge of the area. Eventually, they win a third consecutive corner, which lands in Martinez’s grasp.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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70mins: Another scare for the Blues as Arsenal send a corner to the front post which is nodded across the face of goal by Havertz. James gets in the way, but gives the Gunners another corner.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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69mins: BIG SAVE! Havertz plays Saka into the box and he dispatches a snap shot, but Martinez denies him at full stretch. Chelsea are hanging on...
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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69mins: Chelsea valiant in defence once more. Odegaard finds Zubimendi in the box, but the Spaniard’s shot is blocked by a forest of blue shirts.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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66mins: Here come the first Arsenal changes. Calafiori and Lewis-Skelly replaced by Zubimendi and Hincapie.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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65mins: Rogers sees his name in lights and attempts the spectacular, but his shot is high, wide, and best forgotten.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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64mins: Saka capitalises on a loose touch from Fofana and seems to have set Arsenal on the break, but he is pulled back as the referee deems he had fouled the Frenchman.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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63mins: Joao Pedro slides a cheeky pass in behind for Acheampong, but Raya is quick off his line to beat the defender to it. In all honesty, it probably isn’t who Chelsea would have wanted making that run.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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63mins: Palmer sneaks onto the ball and laces one at Raya, who does what he needs to do.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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61mins: A nice direct move from Chelsea sees Neto tee Gusto up to shoot from the edge of the box. He fizzes his effort narrowly over.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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Lavia has had an injury-plagued career and did not look happy when taken off there. Must have been desperate to last 90 minutes in a match of such high magnitude.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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60mins: Two changes for Chelsea. Chavarria and Gusto on for Hato and Lavia, who is yet to complete a competitive 90 minutes for Chelsea.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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59mins: It is another training ground set-piece from Arsenal as Odegaard slips Havertz in behind, but it doesn’t quite come off. The ball comes out to Tzolis, who whips a pacey cross in search of Gabriel, but a Blue shirt got to it first.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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58mins: Palmer picks Lewis-Skelly’s pocked high up the pitch, but Arsenal fall back into their defensive shape so quickly, there is no way through. After recycling, James eventually plays a cross into Raya’s hands.
Arsenal counter, but the move comes apart as Lacroix is fouled by Tzolis. Both men are booked - Lacroix for the foul and Tzolis for asking the referee to book Lacroix.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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57mins: Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria are being prepped to come on for Chelsea.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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55mins: Saka tees Rice up to try a distance effort, but his effort is blocked and Chelsea break. Rogers takes far too heavy a touch, though, and a crunching tackle from Konsa gets the home fans back on their feet.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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54mins: Arsenal are going in for the kill. With an enthusiastic crowd behind them, it has been wave after wave of attack since Odegaard’s goal.
Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium
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Very, very similar goal to Odegaard's brilliant finish in the Community Shield. Again he makes the late run into the box, this time helped by a brilliant dummy from Havertz, and the Arsenal captain fires his side in front. And now the Emirates is bouncing.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
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52mins: So, the narrative flips and Chelsea come into the hotseat. Can they get one back here? To tell the truth, they haven’t been terribly threatening since Rogers’ second-minute goal.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea | Odegaard '50
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SUCKERPUNCH! Arsenal lead for the first time today! Tzolis sends a low ball into the box which Havertz allows to run, and Odegaard ghosts onto it to lash a powerful finish beyond a helpless Martinez.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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49mins: It has been a tentative opening few minutes of the second half, but the first shot of the period falls to Arsenal. Saka sees a long-range pop blocked by Lacroix.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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45mins: If Colwill comes on, he will likely replace Acheampong, who has just handed Arsenal a free-kick by fouling Tzolis nine seconds into the second half. Nothing comes of the set-piece.
2ND HALF: Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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We are back underway! No changes for either side, but it appears Colwill may be on soon enough.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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Colwill is doing some solo training. Could he be Chelsea's first sub this afternoon?
First half in pictures
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HALF-TIME: Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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This London derby is all square at the break. A scintillating first 45 minutes at the Emirates, and a compelling second half is sure to come next.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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45+3mins: Chelsea race away on the counter-attack after a super ball over the top to Neto. The Portuguese cuts in, gets around Gabriel and shoots, only to hit the post! A cross is whipped back into Joao Pedro, who cannot get his head to it.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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45+2mins: Lavia makes a smart tackle on White and manages to win a goal kick in doing so. There’s a bit of afters between the two men, who are exchanging pleasantries under the referee’s watchful eye.
Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium
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Raya's distribution has been superb so far. Got Tzolis in behind earlier in the half, when Arsenal should have made more of it, and now forces Palmer to take the yellow by stopping Havertz running away on goal. Another strong half from Raya, even if he has conceded for the first time this season.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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There will be four minutes added on to the end of the first half.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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44mins: Another deep free-kick for Chelsea here after Lewis-Skelly catches Palmer, but James’ delivery is poor.
Raya catches it and immediately sends it north to Havertz, who is pulled back by Palmer. The Chelsea man is duly booked.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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43mins: Rice goes through the back of Joao Pedro, who takes a moment to get back up before walking off the knock.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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42mins: Well, Chelsea take their turn to have a spell in possession, but as with so many other teams, they cannot find a way through the Arsenal back line. This latest attack ends with Neto crossing into Raya’s hands.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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40mins: Arsenal are just suffocating Chelsea here. The Blues look to play out from the back after the Gunners lose it in the final third, but they track back so fast Joao Pedro is forced to turn out and recycle.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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36mins: Joao Pedro spots Raya off his line and has a crack from range, but does catch it correctly. The shot bobbles wide.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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It feels bizarre that only 35 minutes have been played. This match has had everything. An hour or so of it left. Fascinating viewing so far.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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35mins: Palmer loses the ball to Lewis-Skelly, and the Chelsea man goes through the back of him with a retributional tackle.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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35mins: Finally Chelsea get out of their own half, but Neto lets the side down with an overhit cross.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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34mins: Lewis-Skelly shoots over from the edge of the area and is adamant he deserves a corner. Replays show he has a point, but the referee awards a goal kick.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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33mins: Some lovely wing play between White and Havertz once again exposes Chelsea’s right-hand side, but the German’s cross goes uncollected. Arsenal laying siege to their visitors.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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31mins: A Joao Pedro flick earns Rogers a shooting chance. His effort flashes wide of the far post.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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29mins: Saka makes a driving run forward, makes a mockery of Fofana and eventually wins a foul after being dispossessed by Lavia.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
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27mins: Questions will be asked of Martinez, who got a fingertip to that and perhaps should have done better to keep it out.
Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium
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It had been coming. Havertz should have shot a couple of minutes earlier, when it flicked it off to Odegaard instead. This time he does go by himself and it beats Martinez at his near post. Arsenal have deserved that.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea | Havertz '25
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Havertz finds the back of the net, and this one will stand! He cuts in off the right flank and drills a low finish beyond the reach of Martinez. VAR shouldn’t have anything to say about this one.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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23mins: James calls Raya into action with a long-range shot, and he saves acrobatically. Arsenal race down the opposite end, but Odegaard is denied a shot by a superb block from Hato.
Chelsea then counter in kind, but Palmer’s cross is just out of the reach of Joao Pedro.
Here come Arsenal again. It’s a basketball match!
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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22mins: The corner comes to nothing and Chelsea counter, with Reece James finding Neto with a superb cross-field ball. Palmer then sends a cross in search of the bottom corner, but Raya gets down to this one, in doing so making his first touch of the afternoon.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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20mins: Tzolis does really well to find Havertz with a cross, but Fofana gets in front of him and we will restart with a corner.
Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium
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Arsenal keep getting in down Chelsea’s right. That triangle of Odegaard, White and Saka is causing plenty of problems, with the Gunners playing at real pace. Just haven't been able to find the final ball yet but it's been a decent response to going behind very early.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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19mins: Chelsea are really under the cosh here. Lacroix slides in to prevent White’s cross reaching Havertz in the box.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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18mins: HUGE SAVE! Saka breaks to the byline and leathers a shot at Martinez from a tight angle, but the Argentine makes a smart parry.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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17mins: The Premier League explain why Calafiori’s goal was chalked off...
#ARSCHE – 12’ VAR OVERTURN
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) September 6, 2026
VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and determined that Konsa was in an offside position in the build-up and recommended that the goal was disallowed.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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Chelsea are fortunate the flag is up. It is the second free-kick from which Arsenal have put them under real pressure.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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14mins: As I say that, Joao Pedro is booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle had blown.
NO GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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The goal is disallowed and Chelsea’s lead is restored! It seems the VAR has deemed Konsa to have been in an offside position.
Wouldn’t be a London derby without a sprinkling of controversy, would it?
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Uh-oh... VAR is checking an offside!
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea | Calafiori '12
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ARSENAL ARE BACK LEVEL! Rice’s cross is turned goalwards and well saved by Martinez after a miss-hit clearance from Joao Pedro, but it just triggers another game of pinball. Konsa hits the post before Calafiori pokes the ball in from close range. All square!
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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Rice and Odegaard standing over it...
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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10mins: And this time Saka does get his foul. Hato catches him clumsily just outside the box. A very dangerous free kick awaits for the hosts.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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9mins: A nervous moment as Lavia trips Saka in the penalty area, but the Arsenal man had strayed offside.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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7mins: White overlaps Saka but Fofana gets in the way of his cross. Corner for Arsenal.
Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium
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Rogers scoring felt inevitable from an Arsenal perspective, and so too Martinez finding himself at the centre of attention. Particularly after that early goal, he'll be relishing every opportunity to wind up the Arsenal fans from these restarts. This situation was made for him.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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6mins: In that scramble, Emi Martinez seems to have taken a kick to the face from Gabriel. The Argentine receives treatment and is prepared to play on as VAR clears the Brazilian of any wrongdoing.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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5mins: Clever from Arsenal! Odegaard teases the cross in behind and Calafiori runs onto it. He can’t quite turn the ball on target, triggering a six-yard box scramble which results in a goal kick.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
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4mins: So, Chelsea have their statement start. Can Arsenal respond now?
Their first bid to do so sees Havertz win a free-kick from Fofana high on the right flank.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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Morgan Rogers puts Chelsea ahead against Arsenal, who wanted to sign him, after 1 minute and 21 seconds. Script written.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea | Rogers '2
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CHELSEA LEAD IMMEDIATELY! They have had a knack for an early goal this season and here is another one! James pumps a deep free kick into the box and it falls to Rogers, who lashes a volley into the bottom left corner. Not much Raya could have done.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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It does look from their early positions as though Chelsea are sticking with their 3-4-2-1 formation that won them the Fulham, Luton and Brighton matches.
KICK-OFF! Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
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And we are UNDERWAY!
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer gets the ball rolling.
Here we go...
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The players take to the pitch in front of a cacophonous Emirates Stadium.
This derby will be underway momentarily!
Team news reminder
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Just ten minutes until this derby gets underway. Here’s a reminder of how the two sides will line up.
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Tzolis
Chelsea XI: Martinez; Acheampong, Fofana, Lacroix; Neto, James, Lavia, Hato; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro
Arteta issues Bruno Guimaraes fitness update
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“He had quite a severe pain after the action against Villa, but he's a monster and he recovered.”
Alonso explains Colwill absence
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"Fitness. Levi had a little thing during the week, so we wanted not to take a risk at this stage of the season."
Peak behind the curtain
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All looks a bit spartan in the away dressing room...
A change in system for Chelsea?
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There are suggestions Chelsea have moved to a back four today.
Xabi Alonso has preferred a 3-4-2-1 so far this season, but Josh Acheampong’s presence in the starting lineup suggests a switch.
He may be down as a right-back, which would mean Pedro Neto pushing further up the pitch as a winger as opposed to a wing-back.
Let’s wait and see how they look come kick-off...
Potential Chelsea shape (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Fofana, Hato; James, Lavia; Rogers, Palmer, Neto; Joao Pedro
Potential Chelsea shape (3-4-2-1): Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Fofana; Hato, James, Lavia, Neto; Rogers, Palmer; Joao Pedro
Matt Verri at the Emirates Stadium
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Huge cheers in the concourses as Maitland-Niles fires one into the top corner with the pretty much the final kick of the game against Manchester United for Everton. Fair to say the Arsenal fans enjoyed that.
Joao Pedro on playing alongside Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer
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“I think you can see in the last games, we have a good chemistry. It is another great chance to show our power today and hopefully by the end of the season, you can see our high level.” (via Sky Sports)
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
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It did seem unlikely that Caicedo would play today, but Xabi Alonso would not rule it out in his press conference on Friday - and I think that could be a theme this season.
It feels as though he has taken a leaf out of Arteta’s book and decided it is not worth giving opponents an advantage.
It seems he will be euphemistic when discussing injuries this season. Something to monitor, I think. Lavia and James in midfield in Caicedo’s absence.
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