Arsenal launched their Premier League title defence in emphatic fashion, sweeping aside newly promoted Coventry City 3-0 in their opening fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, who had already signalled their intentions by defeating Manchester City in last weekend’s Community Shield, produced another dominant display to send an early warning to their title rivals.
Coventry endured a particularly difficult afternoon, becoming the first Premier League side since Opta began recording the data in 2007 to finish the first half without a touch in the opposition penalty area or a single tackle.
Their first tackle eventually came in the 69th minute, by which time Arsenal were already three goals ahead.
New signing Christos Tzolis was again among the standout performers, making a decisive impact on his Premier League debut. The Greece international played a key role in Arsenal’s opening two goals, winning possession for Riccardo Calafiori to set up Kai Havertz before delivering the cross that Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth could only divert into the path of Bukayo Saka.
Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was full of praise for the winger, declaring: “What a left-winger Arsenal have got.”
The result gives Arsenal the perfect start to their campaign and reinforces their status as one of the leading contenders for the Premier League crown.
