Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea comeback: the machine shifts up a gear and leaves rivals wary

If this intense match develops into a title race, Arsenal appear to be ahead by much more than their three-point advantage over Chelsea suggests.

Hansi Alonso's team had spark and energy, pushing the defending champions, but they did not truly have a midfield, which meant they lacked control and led to Alonso's first defeat. It was that control that allowed Arsenal to stand out, and after their 2-1 victory they maintained a perfect record through the first three matches of the season.

One of the main impressions from the victory was that Mikel Arteta's side were more open and attacking than the Premier League is accustomed to seeing, largely because Chelsea took the initiative to attack.

That was part of it, but there was something else that is more concerning for their rivals. Arsenal's machine is now operating so smoothly that it can move at a faster pace. Martin Odegaard's excellent winning goal was a fitting example, as the attack was almost identical to his goal against Manchester City in the Community Shield.

That was clearly not an improvised attack. It was a carefully rehearsed move, with every player knowing which area to enter and the exact moment to do so.

The only surprising element of the match was why Arsenal needed a second goal after Kai Havertz scored the first. Arsenal were clearly caught off guard by Morgan Rogers' 77-second strike. The machine had not yet warmed up.

When an early set piece was delivered into the penalty area, the defending was surprisingly casual and disconnected, allowing Rogers to hook the ball into the net for the opening goal of the match. Some of this may be attributed to Ezri Konsa adapting to his new teammates, but he also completed that adaptation at an impressive speed. By the second half,