Arsenal begin Premier League title defence with win over Coventry
Tzolis shines on Premier League debut - how the players rated
Lampard's promoted Sky Blues were playing first top-flight match in 25 years
"Last year is finished now, we want to do it again" - Odegaard on attacking title, not defending it
Play our new Match of the Day Predictor game | How to follow the opening weekend across the BBC | What are the new rules this season?
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
One game down, 379 to go in this Premier League.
We're done with this live text as champions Arsenal start with a comfortable win over newly-promoted Coventry.
Join us from 11am tomorrow morning for more fun.
See you then.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
One down on this opening Premier League, five more to come tomorrow.
Here's what's on the way on a busy Saturday.
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to Match of the Day: "A great performance, a lot to like from the boys. We were so dominant, we had incredible connections, we were really accurate with the ball."
On how facing newly-promoted teams can be tricky: "They are a really good side, really well-coached and clear in the way they want to hurt you. We didn't give them chances until the last minutes."
On the fast start: "It was really positive, that's what we have been working on and we are going to keep the demands at that level. We have the quality in the squad to do that. We always try to raise the level."
On signing Ezri Konsa and the competition for places: "It's great. We recruited a great defender, a great personality as well so I am very pleased."
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Coventry City
Coventry boss Frank Lampard, speaking to Match of the Day: "It's a good learning curve for our players. You come here and want to do something but it's very difficult. It's a good experience to live. We hate defeats, but you can lose here and there is a lot to be done to do what we want to do this season, so we will take the learnings."
On Arsenal's calibre of players: "It's a club that has worked in a certain direction with a very good manager. Every game is not going to look like that. We had seven or eight Premier League debuts.
"When it's 2-0, you still feel you are in the game, when it's 3-0, it's hard. The boys kept going. They showed good courage as the game went on. They shouldn't be too down after this because these are the best in the league."
On the importance of getting points early: "With that start, we have to remain calm. We want to get rolling. We had a good feeling last year of winning games and it makes everything pretty easy. It won't be so easy this year, but we want to get those points for sure."
On being animated on the touchline: "I have to be the first animated positive person this year. Last year was easy to be animated and happy and smiley all the time. I want to help the players. When they have a tough night, be there for them I will be there for them in the game and after the game."
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "There was a lot to like, we were really flowing with the ball and connected with each other. The overall performance was very positive."
On full-backs going forward: "It's in relation to the opponents behaviour, to try to cause them problems so they're hard for the opponents to handle, they are a big threat in the opponents box so we need to use them."
On signing Ezri Konsa: "We look at the squad as a whole, when they're 28, they're not 38, they're in their prime.
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With Arsenal's excellent performance, the title is theirs to lose and Arsenal's undoing will be Mikel Arteta's team selection.
Sulaimon, Lagos in Nigeria
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Coventry City
Coventry captain, Matt Grimes, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's disappointing obviously, we've not been used to losing for the past year or so, we always knew tonight would be a tough ask. At half-time, we spoke about being braver; we wanted to come out in the second half and give a better account of ourselves. But the early second-half goal kind of killed the game. When you play such a high level of player and team, little mistakes become big mistakes.
Can he see the difference from the Premier League to the Championship: "You can feel it, they're so well drilled and they have players everywhere, you've got Martin Odegaard, one of the best in the world, being in those tough spaces.
On what Lampard said at full-time: "Our season won't be defined by coming to places like this and getting beaten, coming here against players like this is always going to be a tough ask."
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Coventry City
Coventry boss Frank Lampard, speaking to Sky Sports: "Clearly a big challenge. Fantastic team, a good lesson for our boys to see the levels. They played like champions. It was a difficult game for us, the experience of it is probably good for us in terms of the stadium, the atmosphere at the start of the game, the quality that they have. When you concede goals, not great from us and that's the reality."
On what he learned: "You'll see more from us than that. Arsenal will beat a lot of teams here. There were some bits I didn't mind. The lads deserve better than that. Our support was amazing. They understand we lost the game and will learn a lesson."
On it taking 60 minutes for the first touch in Arsenal's box: "Every game won't look like that. This is an Arsenal team buoyed by where they are at."
On how hard it is to adjust to this league: "It's hard. Leeds came here in the first game and lost and stayed in the Premier League. I'm not making any early judgements. We will have to acclimatise."
On how important the connection with fans is: "Important. A few years ago this club was in League Two, playing in a different stadium. When we came in we were 17th in the league. The boys have risen, the team have risen and the connection with the fans has been amazing. They have been a huge strength for us. They have to remain that way and the lads have to give everything."
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Fancy seeing tonight's highlights? Well, we've got you covered...
Arsenal start title defence with comfortable win over Coventry
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard talking to Sky Sports: "It was good to get the first one, the first game can be nervy, Coventry played well and gave us a good fight, they have physical players. After the first goal, we controlled the game a lot more. We look good, still feel like there are things we could have done better, we could be more precise and sharp around the box."
On competition for places: "The team's quality is unbelievable, we see that every day in training. The level we compete at in training is unbelievable and we all push each other."
On where he feels he is now: "Last season was a big struggle for me, I had too many injuries and was going in and out of the team. Sometimes you play not 100% fit, I feel good now and my body is fit, I had a good summer and World Cup."
On having beaten his goal tally from last season already: "Thank you for reminding me, top finish I would say. It's been a big focus to be around the box."
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
The Odyssey is very good, to be fair.
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Tzolis - bargain of the year. Best thing out of Greece since the Odyssey.
Technician Ted, London
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Gary Neville
Former England defender on Sky Sports
I always think you can get into a defensive shape, but it's hard to break out from when it's a team like Arsenal, when the centre backs are pushing in.
Coventry just didn't have that tonight, I don't think it was a bad result for Coventry, they hung in there, the goalkeeper will be disappointed with some of the goals but it felt like a free hit for Coventry tonight.
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A fluke third and keeper error for the second. Players haven’t gelled… Onyeka is a let down… Hamer should have been on.. Simms was a shining light…. Onwards and upwards…. Won’t play Arsenal every week. PUSB
Neil, Stratford UA
People are writing Coventry off already while stating City will be title challengers... Both looked about the same level next to Arsenal.
Karl, Manchester
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, speaking to Match of the Day: "The perfect start. It's always good to start with a win. A win at home, three goals and a clean sheet. It was really solid."
On if his World Cup with Norway has helped his form: "I think it's a combination of many things. Last season was really tough for me with injuries. First winning the league here, then having a good World Cup, feeling fit and then a good break as well, all those things put me in a good place."
On Christos Tzolis' Premier League debut: "Amazing, he played a brilliant game. He has been brilliant all pre-season. He's so lively, it's hard to defend him. He's a really intelligent player, he always looks up and finds the right pass."
On his comments about wanting to attack the title: "For sure that's the mindset. We don't feel we have to defend anything. We want to do it again and that's the mindset. Last year is finished now, we want to do it again and we want to attack it and fight for it again."
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Martin Odegaard ran the show for Arsenal tonight.
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To contradict Adrian @22:11, I think the complete opposite. Arsenal should absolutely walk this league and I say that as someone who hopes they don't. They're not a team of world class players but they are a world class team. They're the best drilled, most cohesive unit in this league.
Harry, Manchester
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
Ian Wright
Former England striker on Sky Sports
Arsenal look sharp, it was a tough one for Coventry. Going against a team who are under immense pressure to get it done. Arsenal had so much space, it was a tough baptism for Coventry today.
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
The season's first player of the match is Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.
He was brilliant tonight.
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Arsenal won't win the league this season. A bit like Liverpool, having gone so long without winning it, I think some of the players will think the job's done and won't be as motivated as last season.
Adrian, Londonderry
Arsenal start title defence with comfortable win over Coventry
At a glance
Arsenal begin title defence with comfortable win at Emirates Stadium
Kai Havertz scores first for the champions after 15 minutes
Bukayo Saka doubles the lead eight minutes later
Captain Martin Odegaard adds a third goal early in second half
Coventry beaten in their first Premier League game since 2001
Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a convincing victory against newly promoted Coventry City at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta ended the club's 22-year wait for a league title last season - and with a faultless display against Frank Lampard's Sky Blues in their opener, his team reminded the rest of the league why they are favourites to retain the crown.
First-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka put the reigning champions firmly in control, and captain Martin Odegaard added a third soon after the restart to seal a comfortable win on the opening day of the campaign.
Arsenal were without their new signing Bruno Guimaraes because of an injury but another of the summer arrivals, Christos Tzolis, had provided the early spark, cutting in from the left before curling a shot over five minutes in.
The Greek winger also played a part in Arsenal's opener but it was a familiar face who found the breakthrough, as Havertz, starting ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, turned in Riccardo Calafiori's low cross after 15 minutes.
It was 2-0 eight minutes later when Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth could only palm Tzolis' low delivery into the feet of Saka and the England international fired into the unguarded goal.
Odegaard added a third four minutes into the second half, receiving a pass from Ben White and beating Rushworth, albeit with a scuffed finish.
Coventry, meanwhile, were hardly afforded an opening by the hosts and finished with just a single shot on target - laying bare the challenge they face on their return to the Premier League after 25 years.
Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City: Mikel Arteta post-match interview
Ninety minutes might be too small a sample size to predict a team's trajectory.
But the manner in which Arsenal have kicked off their new campaign suggests they are well-equipped for a formidable title defence and remain the team to beat once again.
The usual performers delivered as Declan Rice and Saka both made an impact after only appearing as substitutes against Manchester City in Sunday's Community Shield victory, while Havertz has now scored in back-to-back games.
Calafiori was a constant source of energy on the left flank while Gabriel looked solid despite the absence of the injured William Saliba, and the Brazilian will be relishing the prospect of partnering new signing Ezri Konsa, who was presented to the fans before kick-off.
But the standout performer was Tzolis, the winger who pressed relentlessly, created chances and played a key role in both of Arsenal first-half goals on his Premier League debut - a display that only lacked a goal for himself.
Even without Guimaraes, and with Gyokeres only starting on the bench, the champions looked to be in complete control. They carried a constant threat and were rarely troubled themselves.
And the fact they hardly had to shift out of second gear to do so will be encouraging for Arteta, as Arsenal look to defend a Premier League crown successfully for the first time.
Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City: Frank Lampard post-match interview
It was an occasion to savour for the thousands of Coventry supporters who flocked to Emirates Stadium for their club's first Premier League game since 2001.
But if they needed any reminder that the hard work only starts now, this was it.
Their manager Lampard might be no stranger to the Premier League, having won three titles as a player and managed in the top flight too, but it is a newer experience for his players.
He started five of their summer arrivals at the Emirates, including club record singing Caleb Yirenkyi, who cost £23m out of their summer outlay of about £130m.
Yet the Championship winners were outplayed and outclassed.
A more realistic test for Coventry will come against fellow newcomers Hull City next week and the Sky Blues will look to inject early momentum into their campaign by opening their account at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Lampard's side can draw inspiration from Sunderland and Leeds, who both avoided the drop last season, but seven of the past nine sides promoted have still gone straight back down to the Championship.
And it makes the meeting with Hull all the more important.
Three points will prove massive for Coventry, who have the toughest opening schedule of any team this season, according to Opta, with trips against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest to come next month.
Arsenal will resume their Premier League campaign with a trip to Aston Villa on Monday, 31 August (20:00 BST).
Coventry City, meanwhile, will face Plymouth Argyle at Home Park in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, 25 August (19:45) before they host fellow newcomers Hull City on Saturday, 29 August (15:00) in their first home fixture.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
Manager:Mikel Arteta
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Frank Lampard
Formation:4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager:Mikel Arteta
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Frank Lampard
Formation:4 - 1 - 4 - 1
High chance of scoring
Medium chance of scoring
Low chance of scoring
Dominant period
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
| Minute | Team with most threat |
|---|---|
Kick off 1' | Arsenal |
2' | Arsenal |
3' | Arsenal |
4' | Arsenal |
5' | Arsenal |
6' | Arsenal |
7' | Arsenal |
8' | Arsenal |
9' | Arsenal |
10' | Arsenal |
11' | Arsenal |
12' | Arsenal |
13' | Arsenal |
14' | Arsenal |
15' | ArsenalGoal |
16' | Arsenal |
17' | Arsenal |
18' | Arsenal |
19' | Arsenal |
20' | Arsenal |
21' | Arsenal |
22' | Arsenal |
23' | ArsenalGoal |
24' | Arsenal |
25' | Arsenal |
26' | Arsenal |
27' | Arsenal |
28' | Arsenal |
29' | Arsenal |
30' | Arsenal |
31' | Arsenal |
32' | Arsenal |
33' | Arsenal |
34' | Arsenal |
35' | Arsenal |
36' | Arsenal |
37' | Arsenal |
38' | Arsenal |
39' | Arsenal |
40' | Arsenal |
41' | Arsenal |
42' | Coventry City |
43' | Coventry City |
44' | Coventry City |
45' | Arsenal |
45'+1 | Arsenal |
45'+2 | Arsenal |
Half time 45'+3 | Arsenal |
46' | Arsenal |
47' | Arsenal |
48' | Arsenal |
49' | ArsenalGoal |
50' | Arsenal |
51' | Arsenal |
52' | Arsenal |
53' | Arsenal |
54' | Arsenal |
55' | Coventry City |
56' | Coventry City |
57' | Arsenal |
58' | Coventry City |
59' | Coventry City |
60' | Arsenal |
61' | Arsenal |
62' | Arsenal |
63' | Arsenal |
64' | Arsenal |
65' | Arsenal |
66' | Arsenal |
67' | Arsenal |
68' | Arsenal |
69' | Arsenal |
70' | Arsenal |
71' | Arsenal |
72' | Arsenal |
73' | Arsenal |
74' | Arsenal |
75' | Coventry City |
76' | Coventry City |
77' | Arsenal |
78' | Arsenal |
79' | Arsenal |
80' | Coventry City |
81' | Arsenal |
82' | Arsenal |
83' | Arsenal |
84' | Arsenal |
85' | Coventry City |
86' | Coventry City |
87' | Coventry City |
88' | Coventry City |
89' | Coventry City |
90' | Coventry City |
90'+1 | Arsenal |
90'+2 | Arsenal |
90'+3 | Arsenal |
90'+4 | Arsenal |
Full time 90'+5 | Arsenal |
Premier League
All competitions
All competitions
Arsenal and Coventry City have only faced in the opening league game of a season once – in 1993-94, the Sky Blues won 3-0 at Highbury thanks to a hat-trick from Mick Quinn.
This is the first Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Coventry since February 2001, a 1-0 win for the Gunners at Highfield Road. Since Coventry did the double over Arsenal in 1993-94, they’ve won just one of 14 top-flight meetings (D5 L8), a 3-2 win on Boxing Day in 1999.
Arsenal have won their opening match in each of the last four Premier League seasons, since losing 2-0 to Brentford in 2021-22. The Gunners have only won their first match in five in a row once before in their league history, doing so between 2001-02 and 2005-06.
This is Coventry City’s first Premier League campaign since 2000-01, when they started their season with a 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough. They’ve not started a league season with a win since beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the Championship in 2021-22 (D2 L2 in four seasons since).
This will be Coventry’s first league match at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, though they’ve lost there in the League Cup (1-6 in 2012) and FA Cup (0-4 in 2014). Only two teams (including Arsenal) have won their first ever league match at the ground – West Ham in April 2007 and Hull City in September 2008.
Since the start of 2023-24, Arsenal have won 17 of their 18 Premier League games against promoted sides, with the exception a 2-2 draw at Sunderland last season. At home, the Gunners are unbeaten in 45 Premier League home games against promoted sides, the longest such run by any team in the competition’s history (W40 D5).
This is Coventry City’s first Premier League match in 25 years and 94 days, the longest gap between games by a side in the competition’s history. They’ve lost their last seven away league games against the reigning top-flight champions, most recently going down 4-2 at Manchester United in April 2001.
Arsenal – who won their final five league games en route to winning the title last season – have won each of their three MD1 Premier League games as reigning champions (most recently v Everton in 2004-05), with two of those coming against promoted sides (Nottingham Forest in 1998-99, Birmingham in 2002-03).
Mikel Arteta lost his first ever managerial meeting with Coventry’s Frank Lampard, in what was his first home game as Arsenal boss back in December 2019 (1-2 vs Chelsea). Since then, the Spaniard is unbeaten in all five against Lampard in all competitions, winning the last four in a row (D1).
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has won 149 of his 248 Premier League games in charge. Victory here would see him become just the fifth manager to reach 150 victories in fewer than 250 games in the competition, after Pep Guardiola (204), José Mourinho (231), Jürgen Klopp (237), and Alex Ferguson (247).
