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Daily Cannon @dailycannon.com · 07/09/2026

"AT LAST, ELECTRIC CHELSEA LOOK LIKE A PROPER CLUB AGAIN" [Mail]

AT LAST, ELECTRIC CHELSEA LOOK LIKE A PROPER CLUB AGAIN
...but formidable Arsenal still have an extra gear as Arteta triumphs in Basque barn burner
Daily Mail7 Sep 2026OLIVER HOLT Chief Sports Writer

THEY are childhood friends from San Sebastian, who played football on Playa de la Concha, and received eclectic football educations that were influenced by the minds of men such as Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola and Rafa Benitez.

They were both fine, cultured midfielders, thinkers who were born to be distinguished coaches.

They met as coaches for the first time yesterday, dressed identically in the style of the fashionable manager, shortsleeved shirts, dark slacks and pumps with dashes of white.

But they are not in Basque Country any more. English football has them now. And yesterday afternoon, they were swallowed up by its passions and its glories. Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso, the managers of Arsenal and Chelsea masterminded an absolute barn burner of a game, a contest full of sound and fury and, sometimes, footballing beauty that was a credit to both of them.

At the end of the breathlessness, Arsenal ran out winners and even at this early stage of the season, it felt significant. Chelsea had come here as pretenders to Arsenal’s throne after a swashbuckling start to their campaign but even if they did themselves credit, they could not quite keep pace with the champions.

Alonso (right, with Arteta) saw his side produce some stunning attacking football and broke with lightning speed and skill. This result suggested they will improve dramatically on their 10th-place finish last season but that they have to take another step forward to be a match for Arteta’s side.

This Chelsea has many attributes but it cannot quite match Arsenal’s completeness. Arsenal are an eight or nine out of ten everywhere on the field. And their substitutes are on the same level.

Chelsea have weaknesses in defence and midfield that were their undoing at the Emirates and will be again. They ar…

Prashant 🌊@prasshant.bsky.social

@dailycannon.com I guess you will keep an eye on tomorrow's papers to find out, who was the "real winner" from today and how it isn't Arsenal ?

mandar @mandaarrr.omg.lol · 07/09/2026

same energy as this

A news article graphic titled "CARRICK'S KEY ROLE 2012-13" comparing Premier League midfield statistics for Michael Carrick alongside players like Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Steven Gerrard, Yaya Touré, and Santi Cazorla across six categories: Passes, Passes Per 90 Mins, Successful Passes, Successful Passes Per 90 Mins, Touches, and Touches Per 90 Mins. White circles draw attention to top-ranked figures in each stat category.