It could have been a very different afternoon, with an alternative narrative almost inevitably materialising early on.
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narrative → materialise → ?
Morgan Rogers, who Arsenal wanted to sign this summer, fired Chelsea in front.
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Arsenal → want → front
Emi Martinez, unpopular in these parts even before his move to Stamford Bridge, looked to be shaping up to frustrate the home supporters.
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Martinez → look → supporters
Mikel Arteta's side, though, ensured those became minor subplots, as Arsenal showed they can be the full package.
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they → ensure → ?
Arsenal show mettle after early scare
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Arsenal → show → scare
Within one minute and 17 seconds, Arsenal had conceded for the first time this season.
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Arsenal → concede → time
Against a side set to be one of their main title rivals, and with an attack offering a constant threat, this was a major test for the Gunners, not just of their quality but of their composure too in a red-hot London derby.
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this → set → derby
Arteta's side had the answers.
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side → have → answers
In a game brimming with pace and edge, Arsenal responded superbly in a thrilling first-half.
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Arsenal → brim → half
At times they left themselves open on the counter, but the intent in attack was there.
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intent → leave → attack
Riccardo Calafiori was denied by the offside flag, Havertz tested Martinez, and only a wonderful headed clearance from Romeo Lavia denied Bukayo Saka a certain goal.
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clearance → deny → goal
Arsenal have already shown they are elite front-runners and here was evidence they can do it the hard way, against tough opposition too.
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they → show → opposition
Another marker has been laid down.
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marker → lay → ?
Captain Odegaard leads from the front
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Odegaard → lead → front
His clever, low free-kick almost led to Calafiori turning in for an immediate equaliser.
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Calafiori → lead → equaliser
Odegaard then pounced on a loose ball to scoop a pass in behind for Saka, who tested Martinez at his near post.
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who → pounce → post
There was zip to everything Odegaard did, whether he was setting Arsenal away on the counter or operating in tight areas.
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he → be → areas
This time he did not sit the goalkeeper down, but the late run into the box was just as well-timed and the finish no less ruthless.
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finish → sit → box
With two goals in the opening three Premier League matches, Odegaard has already bettered last season's tally.
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Odegaard → better → tally
One more and he'll have matched what he managed in the 2024-25 campaign too.
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he → match → campaign
No debate over Arsenal's striker
As he has for every competitive match so far this season, Havertz led the line for Arsenal over Viktor Gyokeres.
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Havertz → lead → Gyokeres
The German missed almost the entirety of the first half of last season and he is quickly showing Arsenal exactly what they missed.
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they → miss → what
When free in the box in the first half, he opted to flick it off to Odegaard instead of shooting, highlighting that he is not a forward with the most selfish striker instincts.
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he → opt → instincts
He is, though, the best forward for what Arsenal need.
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Arsenal → need → what
Havertz leads the press, holds the ball up, and brings the best out of those around him.
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Havertz → lead → him
There was a lovely flexibility to Arsenal’s attack, with Havertz often drifting out to the right and Bukayo Saka moving centrally.
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Saka → be → right
Havertz’s sensational dummy let the ball run through for Odegaard's goal.
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ball → let → goal
Later in the half, his flick nutmegged Wesley Fofana and set up a chance for Saka.
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flick → nutmegge → Saka
Arsenal play their best football with Havertz in the side.
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Arsenal → play → side
Gyokeres came on for his first minutes of the season and the ball bounced off him.
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ball → come → him
The Swede looked clumsy and offered too many turnovers when Arsenal were looking to see out the match.
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Arsenal → look → match
There is no argument to be had over who should be starting for Arsenal in attack.
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who → be → attack
The Aporia
