*Former Gunner earns Everton point against Man United
Reigning EPL champions Arsenal came from behind to defeat big-spending Chelsea in a pulsating London derby at Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea stunned the home fans by taking a second-minute lead through £117m summer signing Morgan Rogers’ volley after the Gunners failed to clear Reece James’ free-kick.
That was the first goal Mikel Arteta’s side have conceded this season.
Despite their flying start, Chelsea had not kept a clean sheet in their previous 18 Premier League games and Xabi Alonso’s side were forced to withstand wave after wave of Arsenal pressure.
Emiliano Martinez denied Bukayo Saka, while Jorrel Hato and Wesley Fofana each made crucial blocks before the Gunners levelled in the 25th-minute after former Chelsea forward Kai Havertz beat Martinez at his near post with a well-placed finish.
In a high-quality match, Chelsea – who spent close to £350m in the summer transfer window – came within a whisker of retaking the lead.
After captain James had forced David Raya into a save from outside the box, Pedro Neto hit the post after a wonderful solo run before Martin Odegaard settled it in the 50th minute.
The Arsenal captain beat Martinez after Havertz’s clever dummy, the Norwegian’s second goal in three Premier League games.
Chelsea substitute Estevao thought he had equalised right at the end of the game but Raya produced a brilliant finger-tip save as the Blues lost for the fifth straight league game at Emirates Stadium.
Meanwhile, in the first game played on Sunday, former Gunner, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, marked his return to English football by scoring a stunning stoppage-time equaliser as a resilient Everton came from behind twice to draw with Manchester United in the Premier League.
The former Arsenal full-back, who joined Everton from Lyon on transfer deadline day, left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens rooted to the spot when he curled an unstoppable effort into the net to deny the visitors a first away win of the season.
Michael Carrick’s side looked set to seal all three points at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the second consecutive season after Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko scored either side of Tyrique George firing Everton level.
But Maitland-Niles’ first Premier League strike since December 2019 maintained Everton’s unbeaten start to the season at the end of a turbulent week on Merseyside.
