Ljungberg says Havertz outshone Odegaard, Arsenal re‑ignite title chase

Arsenal’s 2‑1 victory over Chelsea on Sunday lifted Mikel Arteta’s side level on points with Manchester City, reigniting a three‑way title race. While Martin Odegaard collected the official man‑of‑the‑match award at the Emirates, former Gunners winger Freddie Ljungberg argued that Kai Havertz had been the standout performer at the Emirates.

Early setback for Arsenal

Sunday’s heavyweight derby began badly for the Gunners when Morgan Rogers volleyed Chelsea ahead after just two minutes in north London. The early goal left Arsenal reeling and forced them to chase the game from the outset. Arsenal dug deep and restored parity when Kai Havertz equalised midway through the first half, squeezing the ball past Emiliano Martinez at his near post to draw level. Shortly after the break, Martin Odegaard seized the lead for the first time in the contest, capitalising on an exquisite dummy from Havertz to slot home the 50th‑minute winner. Title implications and upcoming fixtures. Ljungberg said: “Havertz, in my opinion, was the best player on the pitch.” How he links up, how he jumps over the ball when he has to, unselfish… top, top performance.” The comment appeared alongside a picture from Getty.

The win moved the champions level with Manchester City after three games, while Chelsea sit fourth ahead of their next clash with Leeds. The result also saw Arsenal climb back into the Premier League title race.

Arsenal now head to their Champions League debut against Napoli on Wednesday night before travelling to Sunderland for their next league match. Chelsea, meanwhile, host Leeds in the Carabao Cup and then welcome Hull in the Premier League. The Emirates clash took place in London.

Peter Schmeichel, Ljungberg’s colleague and former Manchester United goalkeeper, added that Odegaard deserved the man‑of‑the‑match prize, praising his technical ability and vision.