Saka scores on return and welcomes new team-mate Konsa after Arsenal demolish Coventry 3-0

Bukayo Saka marked his Premier League return with a goal as Arsenal opened their title defence with a 3-0 demolition of Coventry, while new signing Ezri Konsa watched on from the stands following his £51m move from Aston Villa.

Saka had spent much of last season and the summer’s World Cup in North America managing Achilles pain, but the 24-year-old showed no ill effects at the Emirates, insisting the key to his sharpness was getting back to work quickly rather than resting. “The World Cup was a couple of months ago, but I’ve put in a lot of work since then,” he said. “It was more about balancing my time off and not having too much of a break. So, I took seven days off and then I started to train again. I’m just trying to come back in good shape so I’m on top of my game.”

Saka admitted the tournament had been mentally taxing — England fell short of his personal and team expectations — and he returned to London Colney for pre-season two days early. A hat-trick in the third-place play-off against France in Miami, a 6-4 win, helped rekindle his appetite heading into the new campaign.

With all three goals coming from open play, Saka was asked whether supporters should expect a more attack-minded Arsenal this season. He pushed back firmly: “I don’t like this narrative, to be honest. I think it’s a great start for the team. We played beautiful football and we scored what the game required. Sometimes it’s a set piece, sometimes it’s open play. It’s about winning and that’s what matters.”

On the club’s ambitions, the England winger was equally direct: “That’s the mindset. We want to do it again, and we’re going to give our best.”

Waiting for Saka as he left the pitch was Ezri Konsa, a close friend forged through their time together with England. The pair’s bond is well documented — Konsa famously FaceTimed Saka from Aston Villa’s Europa League open-top bus parade — and now they are reunited at club level. The 28-year-old centre-back completed a move to Arsenal in a deal worth an initial £51m plus £4m in add-ons, and was present to witness the champions’ clean sheet on the opening night of the season.