Arsenal opened their Premier League campaign by sweeping aside newly-promoted Coventry City 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Having previously dispatched Man City in the Community Shield last weekend, Mikel Arteta’s squad reinforced their title credentials through this completely one-sided display. Dating back to 2007 when Opta records began, Coventry set an unwanted record by failing to register a single tackle or touch inside the opposition penalty area during the opening 45 minutes.
Christos Tzolis Shines on Premier League Debut
Once again new signing Christos Tzolis shone. The Greece international supplied a pair of assists at the Principality Stadium, playing a direct role in Arsenal’s opening two goals on his Premier League debut, first winning the ball back for Riccardo Calafiori to tee up Kai Havertz and then sending in the cross Coventry ‘keeper Carl Rushworth diverted into Bukayo Saka’s path. “What a left-winger Arsenal have got,” purred Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on co-commentary. Mikel Arteta later praised the new dynamic on the flank, noting that the team flowed well with the ball.
Mikel Arteta Reaches 150 Premier League Wins
Mikel Arteta recorded his 150th Premier League victory in charge of Arsenal, and is now one of only five managers to reach 150 wins in fewer than 250 games (249), after Pep Guardiola (204), Jose Mourinho (231), Jurgen Klopp (237), and Alex Ferguson (247).
It did not get much better for them after the interval, with Martin Odegaard’s miscued finish adding a third for Arsenal just four minutes into the second period. They eventually made their first tackle on 69 minutes – when they were 3-0 down.
Squad Depth Tested Ahead of Tougher Fixtures
New Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was missing with a thigh injury he picked up in the Community Shield win over Man City. Their defence was barely tested but Ezri Konsa’s pre-match welcome, following his £55m move from Aston Villa, was a reminder they have brought even greater strength and depth to that department, too.
Coventry boss Frank Lampard: “I didn’t mind the reaction towards the end of the game as we went on. I saw some okay things there. It was a big learning curve, I believe they kept going, they kept going much to the end.” “There’s Premier League debuts, there’s noise here, I remember that [as a player]. It’s different to the Championship in a way, no matter where you go,” Lampard told Sky Sports. Meanwhile, Arsenal turn their attention toward upcoming away fixtures against Aston Villa and a home match against Chelsea.
Pro Tip: Tracking Tactical Width
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored Arsenal’s goals against Coventry City?
Kai Havertz opened the scoring, Bukayo Saka added the second, and Martin Odegaard scored the third in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory.
What record did Coventry City set in the first half?
According to Opta data, Coventry became the first Premier League team since 2007 to record zero touches in the opposition box and zero tackles during the first half of a match.
How fast did Mikel Arteta reach 150 Premier League wins?
Mikel Arteta recorded his 150th Premier League victory in charge of Arsenal, and is now one of only five managers to reach 150 wins in fewer than 250 games (249).
Who is Christos Tzolis?
Christos Tzolis is a Greece international winger who made an immediate impact on his Premier League debut for Arsenal, providing the decisive contributions for the team’s first two goals against Coventry.
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Can Arsenal maintain this level of dominance through their upcoming matches against Aston Villa and Chelsea?