Ezri Konsa has praised Arsenal supporters and his new teammates after making an impressive home debut in the Gunners’ 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.

The England international, who joined Arsenal from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window, made his first start at the Emirates on Sunday as Mikel Arteta’s side recovered from an early setback to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.

Chelsea took the lead just 77 seconds into the match when Morgan Rogers volleyed home, but Arsenal responded strongly.

Kai Havertz equalised in the 25th minute before captain Martin Ødegaard completed the comeback shortly after half-time to give the hosts all three points.

For Konsa, the occasion marked his first competitive start at the Emirates since completing his move to Arsenal.

“I felt right at home from day one,” Konsa said after the match, expressing his appreciation for the reception he received from the Arsenal supporters and the support of his teammates.

Konsa partnered Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence and produced a composed display as the hosts held off Chelsea’s attempts to find a second equaliser.

The 28-year-old was particularly effective in one-on-one situations, winning eight of 12 duels during the match, according to post-match statistics.

His performance drew praise from Arteta, who described the defender as “phenomenal” following the victory.

Konsa’s introduction to the Arsenal starting XI came after Cristhian Mosquera was unavailable, giving the summer signing an opportunity to demonstrate his qualities in a high-profile London derby.

Chelsea stunned the home crowd by taking the lead inside the opening two minutes.

Rogers reacted quickly to a loose ball and produced a volley that beat Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

Arsenal gradually took control, however, and Havertz brought the hosts level midway through the first half.

The Gunners then completed the turnaround five minutes after the interval when Ødegaard finished from inside the box following a clever contribution from Havertz.

Chelsea pushed for an equaliser late in the match, but Raya made an important save to preserve Arsenal’s advantage.

The victory kept Arsenal level on nine points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, while Chelsea remained on six points.

The defender’s assured display provides an early indication of what he could offer Arsenal as the season progresses.

His ability to defend one-on-one and contribute to Arsenal’s structured defensive approach was particularly valuable against a Chelsea side that created several attacking opportunities.

For Konsa, the victory also offered an ideal introduction to playing in front of the Emirates crowd as an Arsenal player.

With Arsenal looking to defend their Premier League title, the club will hope Konsa’s strong beginning develops into a consistent partnership with the rest of Arteta’s defensive unit.

The win over Chelsea extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run against their London rivals to 12 matches in all competitions.