Arsenal started their Premier League title defence in impressive fashion with a comfortable victory over newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta ended Arsenal’s 22-year wait for the league title last season, and his side showed why they are among the favourites to retain the trophy with a strong performance against Frank Lampard’s Coventry.
First-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka gave the champions a two-goal advantage before captain Martin Odegaard added a third shortly after the restart to complete the win.
Arsenal were without new signing Bruno Guimaraes because of injury, but another summer arrival, Christos Tzolis, made an early impact.
The Greek winger cut inside from the left and curled a shot over the crossbar after just five minutes.
Tzolis was also involved in Arsenal’s opening goal, but it was Havertz who finished the move. Starting ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, Havertz turned in Riccardo Calafiori’s low cross in the 15th minute.
Arsenal doubled their lead eight minutes later when Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth could only push Tzolis’ low delivery into the path of Saka.
The England international made no mistake as he fired the ball into the empty net to make it 2-0.
Odegaard then added Arsenal’s third four minutes into the second half.
The captain received a pass from Ben White before beating Rushworth with a scuffed finish to put the result beyond doubt.
Coventry struggled to create clear chances throughout the match, with the visitors managing just one shot on target.
The defeat highlighted the difficult task facing Coventry as they return to the Premier League after 25 years.
