Arsenal rout Coventry in season opener

TITLE DEFENSE: Just 89 days after rounding off their title-winning campaign, Arsenal showed no sign of being sated by last season’s long-awaited triumph

Arsenal on Friday made the perfect start to their English Premier League title defense with a stylish 3-0 win against Coventry City in the opening game of the season.

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.

Arsenal’s Kai Havertz celebrates scoring their first goal during their English Premier League game against Coventry City in London on Friday.

Photo: Reuters

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 sign of being sated by that long-awaited triumph as they put Coventry to the sword.

The only downside for Arsenal was the realization 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 (US$69.6 million) move from Villa earlier on Friday and could make his debut against his old club on Aug. 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 sustained in last weekend’s Community Shield win over Manchester City.

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.

However, 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, nearly bagged his first Arsenal goal in the opening minutes, firing just over from Odegaard’s pass.

He went close again moments later with a close-range effort that was cleared off the line by Bobby Thomas.

It was no surprise when Arsenal took the lead in ruthless fashion after 15 minutes.

Coventry defender Milan van Ewijk surrendered possession carelessly on the right flank and Riccardo Calafiori pounced, whipping in a cross that Havertz met with a clinical low strike from just inside the penalty area.

Arteta’s rampant team scented blood and went for the kill in the 23rd minute.

Rice and Odegaard exchanged passes to work the ball out to Tzolis, whose cross was pushed out by Coventry keeper Carl Rushworth into the path of Saka for a simple close-range finish.

Coventry had been reduced to helpless bystanders by Arsenal’s ceaseless pressing and clever movement.

If it was not already over, Odegaard put the result beyond doubt in the 49th minute.

Saka and Ben White teamed up to rip through the Coventry defense before Odegaard’s miscued shot from 10 yards scuffed past Rushworth’s weak attempted save.