And with that, Arsenal have just shown exactly why they are Premier League champions, the kings of English football.
The Gunners will have tougher tests than Coventry City this season but it was a stunning start to the new season, swatting aside Frank Lampard’s men 3-0.
For Mikel Arteta, his side have understandably been made favourites to retain their crown and on the evidence of this display and indeed the 3-0 victory over Manchester City six days ago, it would be hard to bet against them.
Pre-season may not have been ideal – they only won once – but in competitive action, they have so far scored six unanswered goals. Arguably, they look even better than they did in 2025/26.
The key men as Arsenal defeat Coventry
Just under a week ago, Martin Odegaard delivered a mesmerising performance from the middle of the park for Arsenal.
It was a surprise, particularly as the Norwegian has been really off the boil in the last two seasons. Last term, the skipper only scored one goal in all competitions but he is now back with a bang and looks like he’s in the mood to have a big campaign for the Gunners.
Against City he found the net in glorious fashion, sitting Gianluigi Donnarumma down before sliding the ball past him. His goal – Arsenal’s third on Friday evening – was a little scrappier in comparison.
Yet, it only sought to cap off another phenomenal night for Odegaard. He was at the heart of everything good Arteta’s team did against Coventry.
Alas, he was not the only outstanding performer, far from it. Coming into their Premier League title defence, supporters were concerned that the club looked light in attack. Some may still argue that point but their forward line, on the evidence of this last week, actually looks improved.
There was no romantic cameo for Viktor Gyokeres against his former club as Kai Havertz – a fully fit Kai Havertz – was in a dominating mood at the top end of the pitch.
The German scored a week ago and he was on hand once again, bagging the Premier League’s first goal of the season after a lovely cutback from Riccardo Calafiori on 15 minutes.
It wasn’t long before the hosts doubled their advantage. Saka, like Odegaard, has had a tougher couple of years but he was back among the goals, firing home from close range after just 23 minutes.
This was as comfortable a game as Arsenal will have all season. Three goals, a clean sheet and the introduction of new signing Ezri Konsa before the match means everything is rather rosy in N5.
Arsenal’s best player vs Coventry looks like a gem
Odegaard, Havertz and Saka were outstanding against the Sky Blues. The former won Sky Sports’ Man of the Match award but arguably, was not the finest player on the pitch.
That honour deserved to go to Christos Tzolis, who despite not finding the net, was just a joy to watch on the night.
At the start of the summer, there was a cry for a marquee signing to be added to Arsenal’s forward line. Indeed, those cries still remain.
Yet, after the performances of Tzolis in pre-season and in the last week or so, those shouts have been a little quieter. The Greek arrived for £34m from Club Brugge and because his impressive numbers in 2025/26 had been registered in the Belgium Pro League, there were doubts regarding his quality.
Well, those doubts have been swatted away in double quick time. The left winger picked up two assists against City in the Community Shield and picked up another on his Premier League debut for Arsenal.
While his assist was perhaps a little fortuitious, seeing a cross diverted off Carl Rushworth into the path of Saka, it was the least the 24-year-old’s display deserved.
He was so effervescent down the left flank, so efficient with his actions. What strikes you immediately about his play is how decisive he is. Compared to the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke, his decision making is first-class. Everything he does is so precise, so on point.
|
Tzolis vs Coventry City |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
76 |
|
Touches |
51 |
|
Shots |
4 |
|
Shots on target |
2 |
|
Fouled |
2x |
|
Accurate passes |
30/37 (81%) |
|
Key passes |
3 |
|
Crosses |
3 |
|
Duels won |
4/6 |
In a market where jaw-dropping sums of money have been thrown around to sign players, Tzolis already looks like a bargain. In the words of Arsenal content creator Rory Cook, he looks like the “£100m left wing signing” that Arsenal have been craving.
This summer, the north Londoners have chased a whole number of elite attackers from Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior to Julian Alvarez too.
Tzolis may not be cut from a similar cloth as Vini but he is mightily similar to Alvarez, even if they don’t play in the same positions.
What makes them alike is their efficiency in the final third, their decision making, their ability to always involve themselves in the build-up phases of play.
During Friday night’s win, alongside Odegaard, Tzolis looked like the most likely to create something. Indeed, the Greek tallied up three key passes and also had four shots. Like Alvarez, he’s a dual threat capable of popping up in a multitude of zones.
While the former Brugge man played out on the left, he also popped up on the right in the first half and was seen in plenty of central zones. That ability to pop up in different areas was very Alvarez-esque. Take the World Cup for example where the Argentine forward – a central player by trade – came from the left before crashing home a remarkable goal against Switzerland.
The Gunners have reportedly made Alvarez their main target for the rest of the window and they may still find a way to prise him away from Atletico Madrid.
Another forward is certainly necessary but it’s not as pressing a matter as it once was after Tzolis’ perfect start to life at the Emirates.
