Arsenal begin Premier League title defence with Coventry win
Defending champions Arsenal opened the 2026-27 Premier League season with a comfortable 3-0 win over newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on Friday.
Mikel Arteta opted for Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and new signing Christos Tzoliz n attack as Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Martin Lewis Skelly for the nod in the midfield.
Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka was handed a starting shirt by Frank Lampard for Coventry City.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring for the Gunners with a low effort from a Calafiori’s assist in the 15th minute.
Eight minutes later, Bukayo Saka made it 2-0 with a close range finish to set the Gunners on course for a deserved victory.
Coventry City struggled to trouble Arsenal with the Gunners’s solidity too much to handle for the Premier League new boys.
The first half ended 2-0 but Mikel Arteta’s men needed four minutes after the restart to make it 3-0 through Martin Odegaard.
Jack Rudoni was presented with Coventry City’s best chance in the second half but his weak header was handled comfortably by David Raya.
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Taiwo Awoniyi came off the bench for Coventry City in the 71st minute but he was unable to rescue the team from a heavy defeat.
Arsenal will return to Premier League action against Aston Villa at the Villa Park next Monday while Coventry City will take on Plymouth in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Top Stats From Arsenal vs Coventry City
46 – Arsenal are unbeaten in 46 consecutive Premier League home games against promoted sides, the longest such run by any team in the competition’s history (W41 D5).
Martin Ødegaard (36) has now scored more Premier League goals for Arsenal than Cesc Fabregas (35).
4 – Kai Havertz has scored in four consecutive starts for the first time in English football.
1⃣ v Burnley
1⃣ v Paris SG
1⃣ v Manchester City
1⃣ v Coventry City
