martin ødegaard sparks Arsenal comeback in 2-1 win
Scored Arsenal’s winner in a 2-1 comeback against Chelsea at the Emirates, lifting the defending champions to second in the Premier League.
LONDON — martin ødegaard scored the winner as Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 in a London derby at the Emirates on Sunday. The result lifted the defending champions to second in the Premier League table, level on points with leaders Manchester City after City beat Coventry City on Saturday.
Chelsea struck first through Morgan Rogers after just two minutes, but Arsenal steadied quickly. Kai Havertz levelled in the 11th minute with a composed finish on the edge of the box, before Ødegaard decided it after the break with a finish from inside the area after a ball into the box from Christos Tzolis.
The goal mattered for more than the scoreboard. Ødegaard’s strike was his second of the campaign, and it doubled his goal tally from last season, when he scored one in all competitions. In just three matches, he has already matched that number. That is the sort of return Arsenal have been waiting for from a player who has already been central to their title defence.
Arsenal’s attack looks sharper with Ødegaard back in rhythm
Sky Sports noted that Ødegaard, Havertz and Bukayo Saka are fit and firing again, and Arsenal are already seeing the effect. Their first league win over Chelsea at home was built on quick combinations, good movement and a front line that kept asking questions after falling behind early.
Midway through the second half, Ødegaard picked up the ball in an inside-right position and threaded a pass toward Havertz, whose flick allowed Saka to test Emiliano Martinez. The Chelsea goalkeeper pushed the effort around the post, but the move summed up Arsenal’s control once they found their rhythm. They had already recovered from the early setback. Then they kept going.
The comeback also gave Arsenal a third straight Premier League win, and it came with a strong sign about the shape of their attack. The club missed out on Morgan Rogers, Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez in the summer transfer window, but the fit-again trio have helped Arteta’s side look more complete when they are on the pitch together.
It was also the first time since December 2024 that Ødegaard, Havertz and Saka started three straight league games together. That matters for Arsenal. The balance changes when they can start the same attackers again and again, and Sunday’s derby was another reminder of how much sharper they look when that happens.
Ødegaard, speaking after the game, said of Havertz: “He is a really smart player,” and added, “He moves so well and he takes a lot of attention from the defenders.” He continued: “When he makes the run, and I come from behind, I'm always free. So yeah, it was a brilliant goal.”
He also described the derby as “a big game, massive game” against “a tough opponent,” before stressing Arsenal’s mentality. “Our mentality is to keep fighting. We have shown that many times,” Ødegaard said. Arsenal did exactly that, and the league table now reflects it.
