EPL: Arsenal rally to clip Chelsea 2-1

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Arsenal passed the biggest test of their English Premier League (EPL) title defence so far by rallying to a 2-1 win against Chelsea yesterday.

Martin Odegaard struck a 50th-minute winner at the Emirates Stadium after Morgan Rogers had given Chelsea an early lead.

Kai Havertz equalised in the first half for Arsenal, who have a 100 per cent record after three games and moved level at the top of the standings with Manchester City.

“From start to finish, it was a joy to watch our team play and compete. The threat we created, huge individual performances as well, the atmosphere inside the stadium was something great to witness,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

Manchester United ‘s difficult start to the season continued with a 2-2 draw at Everton, despite twice leading at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

STATEMENT WIN FOR ARSENAL

Arsenal faced down the challenge of a Chelsea team that is expected to be among their main rivals for the title this season. And it was not only the result that will have sent out a message to the likes of Man City and Liverpool, but the nature of the win.

Chelsea got off to a perfect start when Rogers volleyed low from the edge of the area to beat David Raya in the second minute. But Arsenal produced the response of champions by creating a slew of chances before Havertz fired into the corner in the 25th.

Odegaard’s decisive strike came five minutes into the second half as he finished clinically from inside the box.

“It was a big massive game, a tough opponent, really hard for us against a really good team. It was a big fight and we got there in the end,” Odegaard said.

It was the first defeat for new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, but his team pushed Arsenal all the way, with Raya producing an outstanding save to deny substitute Estevao from equalising late on.

Pedro Neto also hit the post in the first half.

“It hurts, a defeat has to hurt,” Alonso said. “I learned about the game, about us, what we are doing and starting. The players have this attitude, desire to compete better game by game to try to create something we believe in, to have this conviction.”

UNITED STUNNED

Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck in added time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Everton against United.

The deadline-day signing came off the bench to make his debut and curled a brilliant long-range shot into the top corner to salvage a point for his new club.

United twice led at Hill Dickinson Stadium through goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, who looked to have scored the winner in the 88th. But Everton had an answer on both occasions, with Tyrique George also scoring.

“Everybody wants to start off like that,” Maitland-Niles said. “The ball fell to me on the edge of the box. I put my foot through it, it ended up in the top corner, which I’m happy about.”