Jamie Carragher makes huge Kai Havertz claim after Arsenal beat Chelsea

Arsenal have maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season after beating Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, with Kai Havertz once again demonstrating why Mikel Arteta may already have the striker he needs.

The defending champions have won each of their opening matches and produced another statement performance against one of their expected title rivals.

It comes after Arsenal failed to secure the marquee attacking signing they wanted during the summer transfer window.

Julian Alvarez, Bradley Barcola and Vinicius Junior were among the high-profile forwards linked with a move to north London, but none ultimately arrived.

However, Arsenal's early performances have suggested that missing out may not be as damaging as initially feared.

The BBC highlighted Arsenal's impressive start with the message “No new striker, no worries”, while former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Arteta's team already look extremely difficult to beat.

“I don't see anyone stopping this Arsenal,” Sutton said following the victory over Chelsea.

That confidence has been strengthened by Havertz's performances at centre-forward.

The German was one of Arsenal's standout players against Chelsea and scored the equaliser after the visitors had taken an early lead.

Jamie Carragher was particularly impressed by Havertz and believes Arsenal would need to sign an elite-level attacker to justify removing him from Arteta's starting XI.

“To get him out of this team, you have to be one of the best players in the world,” Carragher said.

It is significant praise for a player whose position had appeared potentially vulnerable during Arsenal's pursuit of another attacker.

Instead, Havertz is strengthening his claim to remain Arteta's first-choice option.

Arteta believes Havertz's relationship with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka is becoming particularly important to Arsenal's attacking play.

“When you feel the chemistry between him and Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka and see what they can produce, it's fantastic,” Arteta said.

“He's enjoying his football, and that's why he's reaching that point.”

After failing to land their preferred attacking targets, Arsenal entered the season with questions surrounding their forward line.

Havertz is rapidly providing an answer.

Havertz now has the opportunity to make Arsenal's failed striker pursuit increasingly irrelevant.

The major question will be whether he can maintain this level throughout the season and provide the consistent attacking output Arsenal need to defend their Premier League title.

For Arteta, the situation also creates an interesting selection dilemma. If Havertz continues performing alongside Odegaard and Saka, any future attacking signing would need to offer a significant upgrade rather than simply another option.

For now, Arsenal have started perfectly — and their existing attack is giving Arteta little reason to regret what did not happen during the transfer window.