Arsenal opened their Premier League title defence with a dominant 3-0 victory over Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium, with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all on the scoresheet. The reigning champions produced a statement performance that left no doubt about their readiness to defend their crown.
The Gunners were rampant as they overran Frank Lampard's newly-promoted Coventry, who were playing their first top-flight match in 25 years. Arsenal utilised the full depth of their squad in what became a procession at the Emirates, sending a loud and clear message to the rest of the Premier League.
Arsenal's new signings shine
Mikel Arteta has spent the past few weeks talking about how his champions are hungry for more success, and this performance underlined that ambition. The team looked strong, focused and dangerous as they gave Coventry a nasty welcome back to the top flight.
New £51million defender Ezri Konsa was paraded before kick-off, while £75m midfielder Bruno Guimarães was missing due to a minor thigh issue. However, much of the damage was done by another new arrival, £34m winger Christos Tzolis, who continued from his two assists and man-of-the-match award in the Community Shield.
Tzolis looks strong, physical and inventive, and it was his pressure on Coventry right back Milan van Ewijk that led to the opening goal. Riccardo Calafiori put over a low cross and Havertz swept home in the 15th minute.
Second goal before the break
Seven minutes later, Declan Rice powered forward from midfield, the ball was spread wide to Tzolis, and the Greece winger sent over a low cross which Coventry's £22m keeper Carl Rushworth could only parry. Saka was in position to fire home from close range to give Arsenal a two-goal lead.
Rice and Saka finished World Cup duty with England just 34 days ago, yet they were straight back into Arsenal's starting XI. Tzolis has now either scored or provided an assist in 21 of his last 22 games, with the only exception being Arsenal's friendly with Como when he scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out. That was his sixth assist in an Arsenal shirt, including pre-season friendlies.
Odegaard seals the win
Rice curled a shot just wide before half time as the gulf in class between the Premier League champions and last season's Championship winners became stark. It got even worse for Coventry and Rushworth after the break when Saka and Odegaard combined nicely, and Ben White cut the ball back from the by-line for Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain mis-hit his shot, it deceived Rushworth and crept into the net, a horrible moment for the Coventry keeper. Odegaard's goal also levelled his return from the whole of last season.
