Romelu Lukaku scored his first ever Chelsea goal – almost a decade after his debut – as Thomas Tuchel’s team deservedly beat Arsenal. Lukaku, who was at Chelsea as a teenager, started at the Emirates after his £97.5m signing from Inter Milan and looks to have given the Blues an ominous new dimension. His hold-up and link-up play caused Arsenal problems all day – and the Belgian duly gave them the lead. Lukaku was involved in the build-up and then finished the move from close range into an empty net from Reece James’ pass.

James got the second himself as he slammed the ball into the roof of the net from Mason Mount’s pass to make it two wins from two in the league. Lukaku almost made it 3-0 but his header was tipped onto the bar by Bernd Leno. Arsenal, missing centre-back Ben White through Covid, have now lost more London derbies in the Premier League this season than last – after just two games. It is only the third time Arsenal have lost their opening two Premier League matches in a season.

Arsenal had never opened a league campaign with two defeats and no goals in their previous 117 seasons of existence – until now. The Gunners, who lost 2-0 to Brentford in the season opener, started the game well in front of their biggest home crowd in almost 18 months. Bukayo Saka laid the ball off for Emile Smith Rowe, whose 25-yard shot was saved early on. The fans were on their feet cheering a good Nicolas Pepe run, but it eventually led to nothing – and they looked beaten from the moment Lukaku scored. Their left side was exposed by James for both goals.