Odegaard and Havertz Firing Again as Arsenal Continue Perfect Start Without New Signings

The champions dispatched Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz combining for the decisive moment—Havertz's dummy releasing Odegaard to finish coolly. Earlier, Havertz had levelled from the edge of the box following Rogers's early Chelsea opener.

This was Arsenal's first league outing with Odegaard, Havertz and Bukayo Saka all fit and starting together since December 2024. According to Sky Sports, their absence through injury had blighted the previous two seasons, but their reunion proves the club may not need the marquee signings they chased over the summer.

Arsenal pursued Morgan Rogers, Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez without success. Yet with these three on the pitch, their attacking play was fluid and devastating. Odegaard found Saka ten times and Havertz seven, underscoring their improved understanding and movement off the ball.

The captain's resurgence is particularly striking. After scoring just once in 36 games last term, Odegaard has three goals in four matches this season and is increasingly getting into the box. Manager Mikel Arteta noted his "point to prove" following his injury-hit campaign, while also crediting Havertz's intelligent positioning for creating space.

When Arsenal last fielded this trio consistently, during 2023/24, they scored a club-record 91 Premier League goals. Keeping them available represents their best answer to forward recruitment.