Mikel Arteta warned that Arsenal are capable of hitting even greater heights after the Premier League champions sent a statement to their title rivals by fighting back from a goal down to beat Chelsea on Sunday.
Arteta's side were under pressure after conceding for the first time this season when Morgan Rogers struck early at the Emirates Stadium, but the response to the setback was outstanding. Kai Havertz equalised before conjuring a brilliant dummy for a rejuvenated Martin Ødegaard to make it 2-1, ensuring that Arsenal moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Related: Ødegaard fires winner as Arsenal complete comeback win over Chelsea
"It was an exceptional performance," Arteta said. "I enjoyed every minute from beginning to end, and the beginning was tough. But the team responded in a spectacular way – the conviction, the determination, the quality. It was beautiful. It was a fascinating game.
"I think it's an indication for us of how we are capable of performing at an even higher level than last season. It depends on how we maintain and sustain that desire, that humbleness, and continue every day to try to find a better version of myself and the team. We still have a lot to grow and a lot to offer. This is the ambition of the team."
Arsenal and City are the only sides who have won their first three games, a statistic Arteta took as evidence that the league will be even harder this time. "It is going to be super hard, the margins you win games," he said.
"We went to Villa Park a few days ago and it was really tough. Today again. We'll go to Sunderland and it'll again be so, so tough. We know every week is going to be like this but that's what we prepare for."
Arteta was delighted with an exceptional midfield display from Ødegaard. Arsenal's captain looks fit after two years of injury problems and has started the campaign with three goals in four games.
"He feels, confidence-wise, I think one of the highest that I've seen him," Arteta said of the Norwegian. "He has a point to prove from last season as well, missing so much football. Kai is the same. I don't know how many times they played together in the last three years but probably not much. He is enjoying his football. He was running forward, having shots, creating for his teammates."
Arteta, who hopes Cristhian Mosquera will make a swift recovery from a muscle problem, was similarly positive about Havertz after the German impressed against his old club. "He looks settled, he looks happy, in his personal life some great things have happened," he said. "He looks fit, he looks happy and he is scoring goals."
While Arsenal celebrated, Chelsea reflected on coming up short. The Blues were exciting in attack but defensive shortcomings led to their first defeat under Xabi Alonso, whose new team have conceded seven in their first three league games.
"My priority is to win games and it's easier when you don't concede many," Alonso said. "This is something that we need to address. We want to be tighter, to be more clinical, more balanced. But this takes time.
"We wanted to compete, we came to win. We were not that far, but it went their way. We could have scored to make it 2-1 and you never know what happens. But the result is the result, I'm not fighting against that. It hurts. But this is the first defeat, it is going to be a long journey and it doesn't have a big impact in our mood."
Chelsea are without a clean sheet in their past 19 league games but Alonso did not want to park the bus. "I want to compete in the best possible way to win," he said. "Today we didn't want to sit deep from the first minute and to wait and to make a long game. We wanted to be active, we wanted to be protagonists in the pressing, sometimes to go higher, sometimes lower, to have good possessions. And we have done many right things. We need to make it better."
Alonso was optimistic that Moisés Caicedo is not enduring a long-term issue after the midfielder missed out with injury. Caicedo is yet to start this season and it is uncertain if he will be back for Chelsea's Carabao Cup tie against Leeds on Wednesday.
"It's about assessing the risk," Alonso said. "Probably last week we took him on too early and I don't want to make the same mistake again."
