Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea a second-minute lead, but goals from Kai Havertz (25') and Martin Odegaard (50') saw the Gunners claim all three points.

It took just 77 seconds for Rogers to open the scoring at the Emirates.

A long free kick from Reece James caused all sorts of problems in the Arsenal area and when the ball eventually dropped to Rogers on the edge of the box, he positioned himself well to volley past David Raya.

Odegaard looked to restore order with a set piece of his own, but his low delivery led to a scramble in the box before play was halted with Gabriel catching Emiliano Martinez in the head.

The Gunners were soon level though, with 12 minutes on the clock, as Riccardo Calafiori turned in a Rice free kick after Martinez had made a great save to deny Gabriel. He had reacted quickest after Ezri Konsa had hit the post. However, the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.

Odegaard found Kai Havertz with a deep, teasing cross, but his header was saved comfortably by Martinez.

The Chelsea goalkeeper was then forced to beat away a right-footed shot from a tight angle from Bukayo Saka as he raced onto a loose ball.

Raya had to be alert to deny Cole Palmer after a Chelsea break, before a frenzy of activity as the action swung from end to end without any end product.

But a goal was always coming, and Havertz scored a fabulous equaliser against his old club as he received Rice’s pass on the right flank before cutting infield and driving a low shot from 18 yards past Martinez at the near post.

Rogers was close to a second on the half-hour mark but skewed his effort wide of the far post from the left of the pitch.

Joao Pedro tried his luck from 40 yards, with Raya well off his line, but he sent his effort well wide.

The final piece of action of a thrilling first half saw Pedro Neto hit the post.

Both sides were unchanged at the start of the second period and, after a relatively quiet start, Odegaard gave Arsenal the lead with a brilliant goal as he fired past Martinez after Havertz had dummied a cheeky pass from Christos Tzolis.

Chelsea responded with a decent spell of possession and a promising move that ended with Josh Acheampong’s cross being well claimed by Raya.

Blues boss Xabi Alonso introduced Pep Chavarria and Malo Gusto for Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia on the hour mark.

Gusto was next with an effort he fired over the bar after being set up by the excellent Neto, before Palmer fired in at Raya.

Mikel Arteta could potentially sense a Chelsea comeback and brought on Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi for Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Martinez then had to be alert to deny Saka, whose first-time shot from the edge of the area was heading in at the back post.

There was no respite for either defence and Gabriel was forced to head clear a Chelsea corner off his goal line with 14 minutes of the match remaining.

Arsenal made further reinforcements with the introduction of Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino for Havertz and Odegaard, while the Blues brought on Estevao for Joao Pedro.

Palmer had a half-chance from a tight angle that he pulled wide as Arsenal began to settle into a deep defensive shape.

Raya made an excellent one-handed save to stop Estevao from blasting home an equaliser with a minute of regulation time to play, while the four minutes of stoppage time were not enough for Chelsea to steal a point as Arsenal moved on to nine points in second place in the Premier League standings.

Alonso's side ended the evening in fourth place with six points from three games.

Arsenal 'raise the bar' as Mikel Arteta hails statement Chelsea victory