Arsenal crushes Coventry 3-0 and launches Premier League season in style
The defending English champions dominated promoted Coventry 3-0 at Emirates Stadium on Friday evening, with goals from Havertz, Saka and Odegaard inside the first hour of play.
Arsenal opened their Premier League season with a commanding display, crushing promoted Coventry 3-0 at Emirates Stadium on Friday 21 August. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard each found the back of the net, leaving the Sky Blues without any response.
The Gunners settled the match in just twenty minutes. Havertz opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a well-placed finish from a cross by Riccardo Calafiori, before Saka doubled the lead seven minutes later (22nd). Coventry’s defence, unable to clear a cross from Christos Tzolis — the new left winger signed for 40 million euros from Bruges — handed them the first goal on a plate.
Early in the second half, Odegaard added to the scoreline with a strike that completely deceived goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, from a pull-back cross by Ben White (49th). The Norwegian playmaker thus sealed a victory that echoes the 3-0 inflicted on Manchester City in the Community Shield the previous week.
For Coventry, who did not conduct as ambitious a transfer window as Ipswich Town, the result is harsh on the opening day. Frank Lampard’s side will need to quickly find resources before hosting Hull City next week. Arsenal, meanwhile, face a far tougher opponent with the trip to Aston Villa.
Read also
-
Football ·Messi fined for slapping Philadelphia Union player in heated 2-2 MLS draw
-
Football ·Tzolis dazzles on Arsenal debut as Gunners demolish Coventry 3-0 to open title defence
-
Football ·Usain Bolt registers to play for Stephen Ireland's Manchester Sunday league veterans side
-
Football ·Odegaard laughs off poor 2023-24 as two goals in two games signal Arsenal revival
-
Football ·De Zerbi backs £300m Tottenham to challenge for the title after summer overhaul
-
Football ·De Zerbi tells unhappy Tottenham players to leave after £300m summer overhaul