Arsenal host Chelsea in an early London derby in the Premier League that could determine whether we have a title race this season.
Champions Arsenal flexed their muscles as they ground out an impressive win at Aston Villa on Monday and although a big-name attacking signing eluded them in the transfer window, Mikel Arteta’s side have the strength and depth to defend their title.
Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea have caught the eye, however, with Cole Palmer finding some early form and creating a formidable front three with Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers that could fire the Blues towards a potential title challenge.
Chelsea have conceded goals at the other end, however, and have struggled to control games so far under Alonso, so a visit to champions Arsenal – who they have not beaten in five years – sets up a fascinating test of their credentials.
Follow updates from Arsenal v Chelsea with our live blog below:
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Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
- Arsenal host Chelsea in Premier League | Live on Sky Sports
- Chelsea have not beaten Arsenal since 2021 but could be challengers this year
- 50' - GOAL! Martin Odegaard finishes off sublime team goal to put Arsenal in front (ARS 2-1 CHE)
- 25' - GOAL! Kai Havertz levels with fine finish from edge of box (ARS 1-1 CHE)
- 13' - NO GOAL! Riccardo Calafiori equaliser chalked off in chaotic start (ARS 0-1 CHE)
- 2' - GOAL! Morgan Rogers puts Chelsea ahead inside 90 seconds (ARS 0-1 CHE)
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, 63 minutes
17:57 , Chris WilsonRaya is again off his line well, this time to collect a promising through ball. He tries to launch a counter but there was too much on it this time.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, 62 minutes
17:55 , Chris WilsonGusto’s first touch is to sweep a curling effort over the bar from the edge of the box.
Gary Neville notes that Chelsea have two right-backs in central midfield right now. While it’s no fault of Alonso’s after the recent injuries, it’s perhaps not the most obvious solution.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, 60 minutes
17:53 , Chris WilsonIt comes wide to Tzolis and he fizzes in a teasing cross that is headed out at the last. The Gunners are piling on pressure now.
Chelsea make changes as Pep Chavarria and Malo Gusto come on for Hato and Lavia, the latter of whom looks extremely disappointed.
Gusto and James in central midfield isn’t too encouraging for the Blues.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, 58 minutes
17:51 , Chris WilsonHalf a chance for Chelsea as James plays it to Pedro in the box, but the cross is straight to Raya.
He tries to launch a counter but Lacroix stops it, with himself and Tzolis both booked in the aftermath (the latter for requesting the yellow).
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, 56 minutes
17:50 , Chris WilsonArsenal are certainly going for it now, throwing men up the pitch as they look to cement their lead.
Palmer wins the ball back near halfway and releases Rogers, but the winger takes a poor touch and Konsa wins the ball back with a crunching sliding challenge. That got the home fans going!
Odegaard strikes again
17:49 , Lawrence Ostlere at the Emirates StadiumThat goal was almost identical to Odegaard's in the Community Shield. Tzolis cut inside and passed low into the box, Havertz let the ball run, and Odegaard took a couple of touches before firing past the goalkeeper. It is a run opponents are going to have to start tracking.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, 53 minutes
17:46 , Chris WilsonArsenal are enjoying more possession in the Chelsea half as they look to add to their lead. How can Chelsea respond?
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-1 Chelsea (Odegaard, 50 minutes)
17:45 , Chris WilsonGOAL! The hosts are ahead and it’s a brilliant goal!
It’s made to look so simple but there’s a sublime dummy from Havertz to unlock it.
Calafiori works it wide to Tzolis, who comes in off the wing and plays a diagonal pass towards the Arsenal striker.
Havertz dummies to pick it up on the edge of the box but lets it go at the last minute, simultaneously sending Odegaard clean through as the Arsenal captain made a similar run from deep.
The Arsenal captain takes his touch well before rifling past Martinez from close range.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 49 minutes
17:42 , Chris WilsonThe hosts are knocking it around the opposition box, though this time it’s the Chelsea defence holding firm as Saka’s long shot hits Lacroix before the visitors win a goal kick.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 47 minutes
17:41 , Chris WilsonPalmer looks to get Chelsea started on the attack but his pass is out of play. Arsenal look to get up the field themselves and they win a free-kick near halfway.
KICK-OFF! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
17:38 , Chris WilsonWe’re back underway in this London derby. Will either side be able to maintain their winning records?
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
17:33 , Chris WilsonIt promises to be an intriguing second half between these two sides. Chelsea have held their own b ut can they mark themselves out as true title contenders today?
At the same time, can Arsenal assert their dominance and remind the Blues why they’re champions? They certainly looked to set to in parts of that first half.
We’ll be back underway at the Emirates soon.
Why was Riccardo Calafiori’s goal disallowed by VAR during Arsenal vs Chelsea?
17:31 , Chris WilsonRiccardo Calafiori appeared to have equalised early in the first half of a thrilling Premier League London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea, only to end up frustrated when VAR intervened to disallow the goal.
It had taken less than two minutes for Chelsea to grab a surprise lead at the Emirates Stadium, with Morgan Rogers producing a sublime finish to stun the reigning champions.
Arsenal failed to adequately clear a launched free kick from Reece James, which eventually fell at the feet of Rogers on the edge of the area. The £117m man caught the ball on the volley and although it wasn’t necessarily a truly clean connection, it thudded beyond David Raya into the bottom corner.
Why was Riccardo Calafiori’s goal disallowed by VAR during Arsenal vs Chelsea?
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
17:28 , Chris Wilson
Plenty of bite in clash of title contenders
17:25 , Lawrence Ostlere at the Emirates StadiumAn absorbing half of football, living up to its billing as a clash of two serious title contenders.
Arsenal have been the better side and should win this in the second half, but Chelsea have had their moments on the counter-attack and will be threatening, whatever happens. Plenty of bite in it too, which is fun.
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
17:22 , Chris WilsonThe referee blows the whistle and we’re level at the break at the Emirates.
It’s been an entertaining half of football in the capital, and we’re set for a fascinating second half as the champions look to assert their dominance at home.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 45 +3 minutes
17:20 , Chris WilsonOFF THE POST!
Almost a second for the Blues!
It all comes from a great counter-attack, with Pedro showing great vision to play the ball into acres of space for Neto.
He’s isolated but he drives towards goal under pressure before rifling a low effort across goal. It looks bound for the corner but comes flying back off the base of the far post!
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 45 +1 minutes
17:19 , Chris WilsonInto the first of four added minutes at the Emirates as Arsenal prepare to take that free-kick.
Rice takes it short but the routine is poor, before White fails to get the ball into the box under pressure from Lavia.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 45 minutes
17:16 , Chris WilsonIt’s quite stop-start now at the Emirates, with Chelsea winning a few soft fouls to break up the play.
Reece James delivers a free-kick from deep but there’s nobody to trouble Raya as he collects.
Arsenal launch a counter as Raya looks for Havertz, but Palmer pulls him back at the expense of a yellow card.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 42 minutes
17:13 , Chris WilsonAcheampong shows some great pace down the right to keep the attack going, with Chelsea knocking it around the Arsenal box comfortably.
The home defence isn’t offering up any openings though, with Raya collecting a cross well.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 40 minutes
17:12 , Chris WilsonChelsea are a lot less willing to commit men forwards at the moment, with Pedro the latest to turn back when a potential counter was on (though he was admittedly outnumbered).
It’s eventually worked back to Martinez, with the visitors more than willing to try and control the game a little more.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 37 minutes
17:09 , Chris WilsonThe game has certainly slowed down now, though it had to after such a pulsating start.
The Gunners are dominating the ball, though neither side has had an opening since the equaliser.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 35 minutes
17:07 , Chris WilsonPalmer’s touch is a little off and it gives Rice time to dive in and win possession, before the Chelsea man concedes a foul in frustration.
Moments later, Chelsea win the ball back in the Arsenal half, with Lavia working it to Pedro. He spots Raya off his line and goes for the lob, but makes a hash of it.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 33 minutes
17:05 , Chris WilsonArsenal have the ball around the Chelsea box again, with Odegaard combining with Saka before Havertz is sent through on the right. He clips a cross towards the back post but nothing comes of the header.
The Gunners come again though, before Lewis-Skelly fizzes a shot over. It looked to have taken a deflection, but the referee has awarded a goal kick...
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 30 minutes
17:03 , Chris WilsonMore possession for the hosts as they look to take advantage of the moment, but this time it breaks down after an admittedly poor backheel from White in the box.
Chelsea have possession in their own defensive third and it feels like the first break we’ve had in a while, though they’re soon on the attack again.
Pedro receives the ball in the box before laying the ball back to Rogers. He looks to have a good chance to try and curl it into the corner, but he fires well wide.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 27 minutes
16:58 , Chris WilsonThere might be some questions over Martinez for that equaliser, but it’s nothing less than Arsenal deserve. They’ve dominated since the goal, but can they kick on from here?
At the same time, Chelsea had a couple of half-chances while they were ahead, and they’ll feel like they can hurt the hosts here.
Just the start?
16:57 , Lawrence Ostlere at the Emirates StadiumThat had been coming. Fantastic finish by Kai Havertz, and Arsenal fully deserve to be level after responding well to the early setback. This has been a brilliant game to watch, great tempo, and there will be more goals, surely...
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 Chelsea (Kai Havertz, 25 minutes)
16:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleAs we were saying! Arsenal are level – and this one will, just about, count!
It’s another fine finish, this time from Kai Havertz. The German is just onside as he picks up the ball in a sort of inside right channel, and sets about weaving along the line of the box-edge. He drags his left-footed effort back towards the near corner, where it blasts through the fingertips of Emiliano Martinez to level affairs.
Havertz strikes against his former club – and you can’t say it hasn’t been coming in this pulsating encounter.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 24 minutes
16:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt feels almost like the last 10 minutes of a knockout tie, this. Without wishing to tempt fate, it would be staggering if it ends 1-0.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 23 minutes
16:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleTop stop again! That’s some drive from Reece James, drawing a full-stretch palm from David Raya sprawling to his right.
Arsenal counter at pace, Christos Tzolis sprung in behind. Kai Havertz lets his ball run to Martin Odegaard...brilliantly blocked!
What a game so far, though, played at the highest of intensity and skill.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 21 minutes
16:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleBetter set-piece work defensively from Chelsea, Wesley Fofana rising high to head away from the penalty spot. The bodies upfield will make them dangerous on the counter-attack, though Arsenal manage to slow them.
Still, though, a chance comes for Cole Palmer on the edge of the box...and David Raya does very well to hold his curling effort with Joao Pedro looking to scavenge.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 20 minutes
16:51 , Harry Latham-CoyleJoao Pedro spreads his arms like a toddler presented with an unwanted plate of vegetables after hitting the deck following a bit of a grapple with Ezri Konsa. No free kick, probably rightly. Chris Kavanagh is letting a little bit of contact go, understandably.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 18 minutes
16:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd just 60 seconds after that Bukayo Saka chance, Ben White breaks in behind and nearly finds Kai Havertz with a low cross. It’s all happening down that right edge.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 17 minutes
16:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleArsenal are getting all sorts of joy down their right. Jorrel Hato is struggling to combat the overload down there with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice both shading that way, and Emi Martinez is forced into a sharp save at his near post.
Chelsea's set-piece chaos
16:47 , Lawrence Ostlere at the Emirates StadiumAustin MacPhee, the Chelsea set-piece coach, was furiously arranging his players before that Arsenal free-kick, and evidently it didn't work. In fairness, he can't do much if Joao Pedro kicks thin air trying to clear it. VAR eventually saves Chelsea, and Joao Pedro.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 15 minutes
16:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleGood officiating from VAR Darren England and referee Chris Kavanagh there. There was plenty going on – but the right decision was reached.
Arsenal are all over Chelsea now, mind. Kai Havertz heads into the hands of Emi Martinez, unable to generate the requisite power to truly test the goalkeeper.
NO GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 13 minutes
16:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleHang on...the goal is chalked off! The VAR has pulled up Konsa for being offside in that passage amidst the throng of bodies as he followed up the free kick. NO GOAL!
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 Chelsea (Riccardo Calafiori, 12 minutes)
16:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe champions are level! Chaos and carnage in the box again and eventually the ball is bundled home!
Crikey, that’s a right mess. Joao Pedro is guilty of failing to clear Declan Rice’s initial free kick, swinging past it with an ugly left leg. Arsenal bodies pile in to the six-yard box, with Ezri Konsa stabbing against the post and Emi Martinez out to smother another attempt. Riccardo Calafiori is there, though, to finish at the third time of asking.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 11 minutes
16:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat one is a foul. Bukayo Saka is felled by Jorrel Hato 25 yards or so out, a little way right of centre. Martin Odegaard range?
Arsenal stunned by Morgan Rogers opener
16:40 , Lawrence Ostlere at the Emirates StadiumWow. That was a bit of a mess from Arsenal’s point of view, and it has stunned the Emirates. A lovely finish by Morgan Rogers, and we have a fascinating game now.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 8 minutes
16:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleAppeals for a penalty...but the flag is up. That box does look mightily empty as Bukayo Saka swings the corner in, and that means a header back across travels towards the taker. Romeo Lavia contests for the bouncing ball with Saka, who tumbles under slight contact – though he was in an offside position when the header was made. I don’t think it was a spot-kick, anyway.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 7 minutes
16:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleA slightly worrying moment for Maxence Lacroix as the Chelsea defender lets one slip under his studs. He recovers swiftly enough to ensure no damage is done.
Emi Martinez – once of Arsenal, of course – is being booed pretty strongly by the home fans now. Good fun.
Arsenal earn a corner as Bukayo Saka and Ben White link up down the right. Chelsea have left four players upfield as the rest ready themselves for the delivery.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 5 minutes
16:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleWhat has happened there? A low free kick from Martin Odegaard causes all manner of problems within the Chelsea six-yard box, with limbs everywhere as four players hit the floor. Emiliano Martinez is one of them, and the ball is eventually smuggled behind for a goal kick.
Eek! Martinez has taken a boot to the head from Gabriel Magalhaes amidst the chaos! Nasty. Unintentional, with Gabriel immediately raising a hand of apology, but it’s very, very clumsy.
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, 3 minutes
16:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleA seriously-focused start from Chelsea. There are plenty who feel Arsenal should have made more of a play for Rogers, of course.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 CHELSEA (Morgan Rogers, 2 minutes)
16:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea strike fast yet again! A superb finish from Morgan Rogers on the volley!
Well well well. Arsenal fail to adequately clear a launched free kick from Reece James, which eventually falls at the feet of Rogers in the ‘D’. It’s not, perhaps, the cleanest connection from the £117m man, but the direction is pinpoint, thudding into the bottom corner with David Raya well beaten. Some start!
Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea, 1 minute
16:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleReece James is in midfield for Chelsea, with Pedro Neto stationed in that wide right role. The Portugal international will have to do a fair bit of defensive work down that flank, but it does give Chelsea a real attacking look.
KICK OFF!
16:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleA peep of the whistle and off we go!
Arsenal vs Chelsea
16:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleMikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso share a friendly embrace, two great friends turning temporary rivals.
Right, here we go. One would imagine Arsenal will dominate much of the ball – but that might suit this free-wheeling Chelsea counter-attack just fine...
Arsenal vs Chelsea
16:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s a lovely afternoon in London, the last hurrahs of summer evident in bright sunshine throughout the day – even if it just starting to cloud over a little now. How pivotal could this early meeting be come next May?
The players are limbering up in the tunnel.
Xabi Alonso explains Chelsea changes
16:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle“Fitness,” the Chelsea manager says to Sky Sports of his defensive tweaks. “There were little things during the week. We didn’t want to take risks at this stage of the season.
“Moises Caicedo was close, but there was no point taking too much risk at this moment. We need to be cautious.”
Arsenal vs Chelsea
16:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleWell, Everton have remained unbeaten, fighting back from behind twice with a Ainsley Maitland-Niles stunner nicking a point against Manchester United. A game short on quality at times, but this was some finish on debut.
Will Arsenal or Chelsea preserve their perfect start?
"That is something SPECIAL!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 6, 2026
Ainsley Maitland-Niles earns a draw for Everton on his debut with an unbelievable 96th minute strike! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/HNdx9PxrUP
Match stats
16:13 , Chris WilsonArsenal have lost just one of their last 29 London derbies, and they’re unbeaten in the last 16.
However, while the Gunners won their opening two matches of the league season this year, they have only started the campaign with three straight wins once in the last 21 seasons!
Old friends Arteta and Alonso rekindle Premier League rivalry as Arsenal meet Chelsea
16:05 , Lawrence OstlereIt was a friendship they kept private. Everton and Liverpool players were not supposed to fraternise. But one of the reasons Mikel Arteta decided to join Everton on loan in January 2005 was that one of his childhood friends was playing on the other side of Stanley Park.
Xabi Alonso had joined Liverpool six months earlier, and the pair would spend the next five years together on Merseyside, spending time at each other’s houses, enjoying each other’s company away from the Premier League spotlight.
It is not unusual now to see, say, Brazilians at Tottenham and Arsenal spending Christmas together on social media, or Argentinians going out for dinner from both sides of the Manchester divide. But in the early 2000s, when the globalisation of English football was rapidly accelerating, it was wise to keep relationships with rivals under wraps.
Old friends Arteta and Alonso rekindle rivalry as Arsenal meet Chelsea
Match stats
15:58 , Chris WilsonThe Blues have lost their last four away games in the Premier League against Arsenal, with an aggregate score of 11-2. They last won at the Emirates in August 2021!
Will Chelsea enter the title race?
15:50 , Chris WilsonChelsea’s energetic start to the season has had some pundits suggest that they can rival Arsenal (and perhaps Man City) for the Premier League title this season.
The attacking performances have been encouraging so far, with Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro standing out and Morgan Rogers also enjoying a productive start to life at Stamford Bridge.
However, defensive issues still remain, with the Blues having conceded five goals in two league games under Xavi Alonso. Their possession stats also make for interesting reading, with a share of just 25% in the 4-3 win over Brighton last week.
Alonso has persisted with a 3-4-2-1 so far this season and while it looks well-equipped to get the best out of the attacking trio, it has so far proved porous in defence. Will that change today against the champions?
If the Blues can land an impressive away win this afternoon, it would certainly put them in title conversations.
How have Arsenal performed?
15:42 , Chris WilsonThe Gunners entered the new season as champions for the first time since 2004, and while a convincing win over newly promoted Coventry was a great start to 2026/27, the win over Aston Villa on Monday was decidedly less exciting.
The Gunners’ defensive solidity was the basis of their title win last season and it doesn’t seem to have gone anywhere this term, with two clean sheets from two so far as well as one in the Community Shield win over Man City.
And while the defence – and how the team defends as a whole – was once again praised at Villa Park, some will wonder whether the Gunners’ attacking struggles might persist against the top teams, both at home and on the continent.
Bukayo Saka has two goals from two so far and he’ll remain the key to Arsenal’s attack, but does he have enough support in Kai Havertz, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke? Martin Odegaard and Bruno Guimaraes will contribute from midfield, but it still does not look like a free-flowing attacking side, and games like today will be a litmus test for how (and if) the attack has developed since last term.
Christos Tzolis backed by Mikel Arteta
15:28 , Lawrence Ostlere at the Emirates StadiumMikel Arteta gives Ezri Konsa his first Premier League start, then, with Cristhian Mosquera out injured. The biggest decision for Arteta was whether to start Christos Tzolis or Eberechi Eze on the left, and he has chosen the Greek winger who struggled last weekend at Aston Villa.
Xabi Alonso elects to go with Josh Acheampong and Wesley Fofana alongside Maxence Lacroix in a back three, which means Levi Colwill is on the bench. The rest of the Chelsea side is as expected, with Reece James and Romeo Lavia paired in midfield in the absence of Moises Caicedo.
Team news – Chelsea
15:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleMalo Gusto and Levi Colwill drop to the Chelsea bench with Josh Acheampong and Reece James brought in. We’ll see exactly where James is deployed, and what that may mean for Cole Palmer’s role.
Chelsea XI: Martinez; Acheampong, Fofana, Lacroix; James, Palmer, Lavia, Hato; Neto, Pedro, Rogers.
Your Chelsea XI.#CFC | #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/UkSmiUVgO3
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Team news – Arsenal
15:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleEzri Konsa is promoted to the starting side by Arsenal having featured off the bench against Aston Villa. The front six remains intact with Bruno Guimaraes on the bench.
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Tzolis.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 6, 2026
Your London derby Gunners ⚡️
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Chelsea transfer business
15:10 , Chris WilsonThe Blues had a predictably busy summer window after finishing 10th last season, with notable arrivals including Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Emi Martinez. Exits included Enzo Fernandez for £120m, as well as Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez (the latter on loan).
Ins:
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa - £117m
Maxence Lacroix, Crystal Palace - £52m
Emi Martinez, Aston Villa - £7.5m
Marco Palestra, Atalanta - £43m
Pep Chavarria, Rayo Vallecano - £16m
Valentin Barco, Brighton - £34m
Emmanuel Emegha, Strasbourg - £21m
Danny Welbeck, Brighton - £5m
Jordan Henderson, Brentford - free transfer
Outs:
Enzo Fernandez, Man City - £120m
Nicolas Jackson, Aston Villa - £65m
Marc Cucurella, Real Madrid - £55m
Andrey Santos, Man Utd - £50m
Liam Delap, Nottingham Forest - £45m
Tosin Adarabioyo, Tottenham - £7m
Trevoh Chalobah, Como - £25m
Robert Sanchez, Como - loan
Arsenal’s transfer business
15:05 , Chris WilsonThe champions were fairly busy in the summer window, with notable arrivals including Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis.
As for exits, the big name to leave the club was Gabriel Martinelli, though Gabriel Jesus’ move to Barcelona also caught some by surprise!
Ins:
Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle - £75m
Christos Tzolis, Club Brugge - £34m
Ezri Konsa, Aston Villa - £51m
Piero Hincapie, Bayern Leverkusen - £34.5m
Islan Meslier, Leeds United - free
Outs:
Gabriel Jesus, Barcelona - £12.8m
Gabriel Martinelli, Al Hilal - £60m
Jakub Kiwior, Porto - £17m
Leandro Trossard, Besiktas - £15m
Christian Norgaard, Everton - £7m
Arsenal's strong recent record
15:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleArsenal are actually unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions against Chelsea, including nine in the Premier League. That’s their longest run of that type since a 19-match streak in the top-flight between 1995 and 2005.
A perfect start will fall
14:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleManchester City made it three wins from three to start the new Premier League season with success over Coventry yesterday, and this clash brings together the other two clubs yet to drop points. Fair play to Hull, too – seven points from three games represents a sterling start for a side tipped by many to struggle.
Mikel Arteta explains the change he has seen in Bukayo Saka
14:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleMikel Arteta has seen Bukayo Saka’s determination to take his game to a new level during Arsenal’s Premier League title defence.
Saka was affected by an Achilles injury last season that also lingered into England’s World Cup campaign, limiting him to only three starts in their eight games.
The 25-year-old winger cut short his summer break to report early for club duty and that intent has been rewarded with goals against Coventry and Aston Villa – the first time he has scored in consecutive league matches since November 2024.
Even with Saka not firing on all cylinders in 2025-26, the Gunners won seven per cent more games if he was involved and his contribution becomes even more important after the club was unable to recruit an elite level forward during the transfer window.
Referencing the hunger being shown by Saka, boss Arteta said: “I noticed that straight away. The fact that he wanted to come in early was already a great sign and there was the way he prepared during the summer.
“Things happen in your career and then you need certain motivation, or a little pinch sometimes, to take it to a different level. And there are really good signs that Bukayo is giving to think that is going to be the case.”
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso delighted with Morgan Rogers' early impact
14:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea boss Xabi Alonso is glad to see Morgan Rogers enjoying himself in blue as the England international prepares to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, where he could have ended up had things worked out differently this summer.
The Premier League champions seemed a likely destination for Rogers after the World Cup before Chelsea sealed a £117m deal with Aston Villa.
Rogers scored on his league debut in the 3-2 win at Fulham and looks set to become a key man in Alonso’s reshaped squad.
Alonso feels there is plenty more to come from the 24-year-old, who has quickly rekindled his understanding with close friend Cole Palmer, the pair having been in the Manchester City academy together.
“Talking about the squad planning and taking big decisions, for sure, Morgan’s one was a big, big one to get a player of his stature in present and future,” Alonso said.
“He will be a key player for the next six, seven years. Right now, he has had a great impact.
“His chemistry with the whole team is great, the chemistry with his striker partners is fantastic and that is happening in a short time. It gives us a lot of hope for the future. And he looks really happy as well, so that is important.”
Emi Martinez makes unique gesture to Chelsea fans after changing squad number
14:20 , Jack RathbornEmiliano Martinez has switched shirt numbers at Chelsea after the No 1 jersey became available following Robert Sanchez’s departure.
The Argentine goalkeeper initially took on the No 26, following in the footsteps of Blues legend John Terry and the pair even exchanged a phone call and discussed the importance of the number.
But after Sanchez left for Como, the No 1 shirt became vacant and Martinez has jumped at the chance to wear the more iconic number for goalkeepers, despite making his debut against Brighton in the No 26 shirt.
Emi Martinez makes unique gesture to Chelsea fans after changing squad number
Everton and Manchester United underway
14:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleBack to today’s second helping of Premier League action in a moment, but Everton and Manchester United are up and running at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. You can follow that game LIVE here:
Everton v Man Utd LIVE: Team news and latest updates from Premier League
The Premier League’s obscene transfer window has broken football
14:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleWith over £3.3bn spent on transfer fees, the Premier League has more money than ever before, yet this was the summer where American-style ‘trading’ also left fewer clubs satisfied with their business, writes Miguel Delaney:
The Premier League’s obscene transfer window has broken football
Rating every Premier League club’s transfer window after record deadline day
13:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleHow did Arsenal’s window as a whole rate? Our crack team had a go at assessing all 20 Premier League clubs after a hectic summer.
Rating every Premier League club’s transfer window after record deadline day
Arsenal’s big transfer failure leaves Mikel Arteta with one choice
13:40 , Miguel DelaneyIt felt like a slightly strange end to the summer transfer window for Arsenal, undoubtedly strengthened but missing out on the marquee forward they clearly coveted.
Arsenal’s big transfer failure leaves Mikel Arteta with one choice
Clash of Arsenal and Chelsea contrasts can serve up Premier League’s missing title race
13:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt feels like the sort of day that will be hugely instructive for this Premier League season as a whole. Can Chelsea emerge as genuine challengers to Arsenal? Miguel Delaney tries to answer that question.
Clash of Arsenal and Chelsea contrasts can make Premier League’s missing title race
Old friends Arteta and Alonso rekindle Premier League rivalry as Arsenal meet Chelsea
13:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleMikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso go back a long way, two Basque boys now reunited as managers of Premier League rivals in London. Lawrence Ostlere explores the pair’s relationship.
Old friends Arteta and Alonso rekindle rivalry as Arsenal meet Chelsea
Early Arsenal vs Chelsea team news
13:05 , Flo CliffordJurrien Timber and William Saliba remain absent for the hosts as they recover from injuries, while there are doubts over Cristhian Mosquera, who came off against Villa, and Bruno Guimaraes. Mikel Arteta confirmed both players will be checked on Saturday but said Ezri Konsa is available to start if Mosquera cannot.
Moises Caicedo faces a late fitness check after he lasted just 14 minutes against Brighton last weekend. Chelsea were unable to replace Enzo Fernandez before the deadline closed, with a deal for Monaco’s Lamine Camara collapsing at the 11th hour. Reece James and Valentin Barco could shift into midfield if Caicedo is injured.
Arsenal vs Chelsea LIVE
10:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleArsenal and Chelsea collide in a potentially huge early-season meeting of London clubs each possessing title aspirations. Can the upstart visitors make a statement of intent against the defending champions?
Kick off is at 4.30pm BST.
