NewzArsenal started last season as nearly men but their title win has given them a swagger - as Coventry discovered on the Premier League's opening night. Newcomer Christos Tzolis helped set up two goals as the defending champions dismantled promoted Coventry 3-0 in the season opener. Arsenal made the perfect start to their Premier League title defence with a stylish 3-0 win against Coventry in the opening game of the season on Friday.
Mikel Arteta’s side brushed aside promoted Coventry in emphatic fashion at the Emirates Stadium, underlining their determination to retain the title. Kai Havertz struck early in the first half and Bukayo Saka doubled the lead before Martin Odegaard netted after the interval to complete Arsenal’s masterclass. The Gunners have not successfully defended the English title since the 1930s, but Arteta insisted this week his players are hungry for more silverware.
Just 89 days after rounding off their title-winning campaign with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace in May, the champions showed no signs of being sated by that long-awaited triumph as they put Coventry to the sword. The only downside for Arsenal was the realisation they have to wait 10 days for their next game at Aston Villa. Worryingly for Arsenal’s rivals, they are only getting stronger and new signing Ezri Konsa was given a warm welcome when he was presented to fans before kick-off.
The England defender completed his £51 million ($69 million) move from Villa earlier on Friday and could make his debut against his old club on August 31. Greek winger Christos Tzolis dazzled on his first league start for Arsenal after his close-season move from Club Brugge. Fellow new signing Bruno Guimaraes was hardly missed after being sidelined by an injury suffered in last weekend’s Community Shield win over Manchester City.
Rampant Arsenal- Coventry were playing their first Premier League game since 2001 after winning the Championship last season to end their long exile from the top-flight. Having spent a season in the fourth tier, plunged into administration and twice been forced to ground-share away from Coventry in the 25 years since they were last in the Premier League, the return of Frank Lampard’s side was a feelgood moment. But Arsenal had no room for sentiment as they dispatched Coventry in merciless style.
In their first home league game since being crowned champions last season, Arsenal strode onto the pitch with the acclaim of the sell-out 60,000 crowd ringing in their ears. The party atmosphere created by Arsenal’s jubilant fans in north London was a fitting backdrop to a swaggering performance. Tzolis, who provided two assists in the Community Shield, ne…
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