Arsenal can reach even greater heights after Chelsea comeback - Arteta

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal have the potential to surpass the level that delivered their Premier League title last season after the champions produced an impressive comeback to defeat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Gunners were forced to recover from a nightmare start when Morgan Rogers struck inside two minutes to give Chelsea an early advantage. Arsenal responded with character and attacking intent, however, with Kai Havertz restoring parity in the 25th minute before captain Martin Ødegaard completed the turnaround five minutes into the second half. 

The victory maintained Arsenal's perfect start to the campaign, with three wins from three matches, and marked their most convincing performance yet after earlier victories over Coventry City and Aston Villa.

Arteta was particularly impressed by the way his players responded to conceding so early, praising their determination, composure and quality against a Chelsea side under new manager Xabi Alonso.

“It was an exceptional performance,” Arteta said after the match. “The beginning was tough, but the way the team reacted was spectacular. The conviction, determination and quality were beautiful.”

The Arsenal boss believes Sunday's display was evidence that his team can operate at an even higher level than they did during their title-winning campaign.

“It’s an indication of how capable we are of performing at an even higher level than last season,” Arteta said, while stressing that maintaining that standard will depend on the squad sustaining its hunger and desire. 

Havertz was central to Arsenal's comeback, scoring the equaliser against his former club before playing a key role in Ødegaard's winner. The German's clever movement created the space for the Arsenal captain to finish decisively.

Ødegaard, meanwhile, delivered one of his strongest performances after a disrupted previous campaign and appears to have regained his sharpness and confidence.

Arteta believes the return to fitness of Ødegaard, Havertz and Bukayo Saka could give Arsenal an attacking edge they were unable to consistently enjoy last season.

The manager also highlighted the growing chemistry between his attacking players, suggesting that having key members of his squad available together could unlock another level for the champions.

Arsenal are now one of only two teams with a 100% record after three Premier League matches, alongside Manchester City. 

For Chelsea, the defeat brought their unbeaten start under Alonso to an end and exposed defensive weaknesses, with the Blues having conceded seven goals across their opening three league matches.