Arsenal began its Premier League title defense in emphatic fashion Friday, with newcomer Christos Tzolis helping create two goals in a 3-0 dismantling of promoted Coventry and spoiling the visitors’ long-awaited return to the top flight.
Fresh from ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title, Arsenal immediately underlined its status as the favorite to retain the crown. Frank Lampard’s Coventry was outplayed from the opening whistle in a thoroughly one-sided contest.
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Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard found the net for the Gunners, who could have won by an even wider margin after missing several further chances.
“The perfect start,” Odegaard said.
Coventry’s return to the Premier League after a 25-year absence proved a harsh introduction. Lampard’s team had won the second-tier Championship by a wide margin last season, but it struggled to cope with an Arsenal attack that repeatedly carved it open.
Tzolis was the only summer signing named in the host’s starting lineup, yet the left winger quickly demonstrated the extra dimension he can bring to Arsenal’s attack by playing a role in both early goals.
In the 15th minute, Tzolis won possession and released defender Riccardo Calafiori, who squared the ball for Havertz to finish. Eight minutes later, the Greece international delivered a cross from the left that goalkeeper Carl Rushworth could only parry into Saka’s path, allowing the winger to score into an empty net.
(asterisk)Amazing, he played a brilliant game,” Odegaard said of Tzolis. “He has been brilliant all preseason. 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.”
Odegaard completed the scoring shortly after halftime when his scuffed effort looped over Rushworth and dropped beyond the goalkeeper’s reach. The Arsenal captain responded with an apologetic shrug during his celebration.
“It was not the best finish but I was there,” Odegaard said.
Raya had little to do at the opposite end. Coventry’s closest early attempt came in the 42nd minute, when Loum Tchaouna’s speculative overhead kick from outside the box sailed narrowly over the bar. The visitors did not register an effort on target until the 86th, when Jack Rudoni sent a weak header straight at Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Arsenal unveiled its latest signing, England defender Ezri Konsa, before kickoff after he completed his move from Aston Villa earlier Friday.
