The Blues were eyeing a memorable afternoon in north London as we looked to end our derby rivals' 100 per cent record this season with a statement Premier League victory.

We took a step towards that becoming reality when Morgan Rogers caught everyone out with a clever first-time shot from outside the box that wrong-footed goalkeeper David Raya on its way into the left-hand corner.

Unfortunately, we couldn't hold that advantage, as Arsenal levelled before half-time through Kai Havertz. Martin Odegaard then broke free in the penalty area to give the home side a 2-1 lead shortly after the break.

Chelsea refused to lie down and fought hard to salvage a share of the points, and were only denied it by a matter of inches after Pedro Neto hit the post and David Raya tipped an Estevao Willian shot over the bar, but it wasn't to be.

The selection

Emi Martinez continued between the posts against the club that first brought him to England, but there was a change to the shape ahead of him. Josh Acheampong came in at right-back - Levi Colwill making way - French duo Wesley Fofana and Maxence Lacroix were in the middle, with Jorrel Hato dropping deeper at left-back. Reece James came in for Malo Gusto in midfield with Romeo Lavia, as Pedro Neto pushed higher on the right to join Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers in supporting striker Joao Pedro.

There was a big atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium come kick-off, as you would expect for a London derby between two teams who went into this game with 100 per cent records this season, both sets of supporters eagerly anticipating a massive Sunday afternoon Premier League fixture.

Quick out of the blocks again

Chelsea have made early goals a theme of our season so far, and it was another flying start from the Blues as we opened the scoring inside two minutes. It all stemmed from a free-kick, lofted into the Arsenal box by James and won in the air by Lacroix.

It broke loose, but the Gunners failed to clear and Hato kept it alive – his header bouncing invitingly towards Rogers on the edge of the area. The England international didn’t need a second invitation, sweeping a first-time shot low and into the bottom corner, beyond the dive of Raya.

The Blues were 1-0 up, but the job was far from done as the Gunners tried to hit back immediately. A free-kick of their own out wide was delivered low and caused chaos in a six-yard box scramble.

Martinez was brave to save low and then delve into the tangle of limbs to put the ball out of danger, taking a boot to the head from Gabriel Magalhaes in the process.

Arsenal push back

Dead-ball situations seemed to be the order of the day and Arsenal thought they had levelled the scores when another low free-kick came into the Chelsea box and caused chaos.

In a frantic scramble, Martinez initially saved from Ezri Konsa, only for Gabriel’s follow-up to hit the post and squirm back across his goal out of reach, where Riccardo Calafiori was able to score from close range. However, VAR intervened with Konsa offside. Our lead was retained.

We were having to work hard to keep it that way, as the home side pushed upfield and Martinez had to save from Havertz and Bukayo Saka, although neither effort really troubled him at his near post.

Palmer and James tested Raya with efforts from outside the box, but Chelsea attacks were rare midway through the first half, as Arsenal tried to get back on level terms before the break. There was some stern defending, and one brilliant challenge by Hato in particular, as we tried to prevent them from doing so.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last. The pressure eventually told when Havertz cut in from the right onto his left foot and found a yard to roll a shot inside Martinez’s near post from the edge of the box. All square again at the Emirates Stadium.

The first half ended in something of a stalemate, with neither team able to turn spells of possession into serious pressure, although Neto did come close when he struck the base of the left-hand post with a low shot on the counter in stoppage time.

Blues behind

As it was, both teams came out for the second half looking determined to break the deadlock and secure all three points.

Despite plenty of fight by the Blues, it was Arsenal who found the next goal and took the lead when Havertz dummied to let a low cross run past him to Odegaard, who had the time and space to finish at close range.

Chelsea refused to give in, with Palmer looking for opportunities to get on the attack quickly, although we also needed to guard against Arsenal counter-attacks now. Xabi Alonso turned to his bench in an attempt to give us more control and move the game into the home team's half; Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria came on in place of Hato and Lavia.

Nothing to lose

The same pattern continued. Palmer and Joao Pedro were looking lively and carrying our biggest threat, but Martinez had to be quick off his line to prevent Arsenal breakaways on a couple of occasions, and produced one brilliant reaction save to deny Saka as we pushed upfield and risked leaving our keeper exposed.

Chelsea continued to increase the pressure and had the title holders pinned back in their own half for much of the final 15 minutes. Despite that pressure, plus the introduction of Estevao Willian and Danny Welbeck to bolster our attack, there was just no way through the Arsenal defence.

Our winning start to the season was over - despite Estevao forcing a late fingertip save from Raya - but there were still positives for Xabi Alonso to take away from the Emirates, after we pushed the champions all the way on their own turf.

What it means

Despite dropping points for the first time this season, Chelsea remain fourth in the Premier League table at this early stage in the campaign, three behind joint-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City, who have the last remaining 100 per cent records.

What is next

Chelsea are back in action in midweek in the first of two games at Stamford Bridge in the coming days. That will be in the Carabao Cup when we host Leeds United in the third round, with kick-off at 8pm on Wednesday 9 September, before Hull City come to SW6 in the Premier League at 3pm on Saturday 12 September.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Fofana, Hato (Chavarria 60); James (c), Lavia (Gusto 60); Neto (Estevao 81), Palmer, Rogers (Welbeck 87); Joao Pedro
Unused subs: Penders, Colwill, Barco, Gittens, Quenda
Scorer: Rogers 2
Booked: Joao Pedro 14, Palmer 45, Lacroix 58

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori (Hincapie 67); Lewis-Skelly (Zubimendi 67), Rice; Saka (Madueke 90), Odegaard (c) (Merino 78), Tzolis; Havertz (Gyokeres 78)
Unused subs: Kepa, Dowman, Guimaraes, Eze
Scorers: Havertz 25, Odegaard 50
Booked: Tzolis 58, Merino 90+5

Referee: Chris Kavanagh