Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in Arsenal vs Chelsea, and the standout numbers belonged to Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard. Both finished on 8.2 ratings in a derby that had already swung wildly before halftime. Chelsea scored in the 2nd minute, Riccardo Calafiori had an equaliser ruled out by VAR, and Arsenal still found the composure to take control.

Havertz and Odegaard decided the game

The comeback started after an awful opening for Arsenal. Morgan Rogers scored Chelsea's opener in the 2nd minute with a volley after a launch from Reece James, and Jorrel Hato was credited with the assist in the event data.

Arsenal thought they had responded quickly when Calafiori struck in the 12th minute, but the goal did not stand. VAR judged Ezri Konsa offside in the build-up, which kept Chelsea ahead and added to the disorder of the first quarter.

What settled the match for Arsenal was the level of their best attackers. Havertz equalised in the 25th minute with a left-footed strike, and that goal felt like the point where the game started to tilt back toward the home side. Ødegaard then put Arsenal ahead in the 50th minute with a clinical finish.

The ratings line up with that reading. Havertz posted 8.2, Ødegaard matched him on 8.2, and Declan Rice was next among Arsenal's outfield players on 7.7 after providing the assist for Havertz. When your two most decisive attackers both finish at the top, the result usually makes sense.

Chelsea still had moments, but their best individual numbers were lower. Rogers, who gave them the perfect start, finished on 7.01. Emi Martinez made eight saves and still ended up on the losing side, which points to how much pressure Arsenal created once they got through the early mess.

VAR and Gabriel kept the temperature high

The scoreline was only part of the story. This derby also turned on two officiating calls that could easily have dominated the whole night.

Calafiori's disallowed goal was the first flashpoint, and the Premier League later explained the decision. Quoted by sportsmole.co.uk, the league said: "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."

The other moment involved Gabriel, whose boot caught Emi Martinez in the face inside the penalty area. Chris Kavanagh did not show a card, and the decision survived review. Quoted by goal.com, the Premier League said: "The review deemed Gabriel had not exhibited serious foul play."

Gabriel's own display reflected some of that tension. He posted a 6.29 rating, which fits a defender who looked far less secure than Arsenal's match-winners at the other end. Calafiori's 6.11 also summed up a stop-start evening that featured the disallowed goal and an early substitution later in the match.

Arsenal had the higher-end quality

This was a scrappy derby for stretches, and Mikel Arteta's side did not control every phase. They did, however, have the players who finished the big moments better.

That is the main takeaway from a game that could have drifted the other way after two minutes. Chelsea landed the first punch, VAR took one Arsenal equaliser away, and the visitors still could not stop Havertz and Ødegaard from deciding it.

The verified result is Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on 6 September 2026.

FAQ

Why were Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard so important in Arsenal's win over Chelsea?

They were Arsenal's joint highest-rated players on 8.2 and scored the two goals that turned the derby around. Havertz equalised in the 25th minute after Chelsea's early opener, then Odegaard finished clinically in the 50th minute to make it 2-1.

Why was Riccardo Calafiori's goal against Chelsea disallowed by VAR?

Calafiori thought he had equalised in the 12th minute, but the goal was ruled out after VAR judged Ezri Konsa offside in the build-up. The Premier League's explanation was that the referee's call was checked and the offside led to the goal being disallowed.

Did Gabriel get away with a red card in Arsenal vs Chelsea?

Gabriel was not sent off and was not shown a card after his boot caught Emi Martinez in the face inside the penalty area. The Premier League later said the review deemed he had not exhibited serious foul play, so the no-card decision stood.

How did Arsenal recover after Chelsea scored so early?

Chelsea went ahead in the 2nd minute through Morgan Rogers, but Arsenal settled through their key attackers and midfield. Havertz levelled in the 25th minute, Rice supplied that assist, and Odegaard scored the winner in the 50th minute in a 2-1 comeback.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →