Premier League Gameweek 1
Arsenal
Aug 21, 2026 8.00pm
3
0
HT : 2 0
FT Emirates Stadium
Coventry
  • Kai Havertz 15' goal
  • Bukayo Saka 23' goal
  • Gabriel 34' yellowcard
  • Martin Ødegaard 49' goal
  • yellowcard Caleb Yirenkyi 27'

Arsenal 3-0 Coventry: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Mikel Arteta celebrates new milestone

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Mikel's milestone: Arteta hits new landmark as Arsenal sweep aside Coventry
© Iconsport / SPI

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reached a landmark 150th Premier League victory as a head coach as the Gunners began their title defence with a clinical 3-0 beating of Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.

Starting as they mean to go on for the entirety of the new Premier League season, the champions ruthlessly capitalised on Coventry mistakes in the opening half-hour to race into a deserved 2-0 lead courtesy of Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.

As new signing Ezri Konsa took in the action from the stands, Arsenal turned two to three shortly after half time, as captain Martin Odegaard followed up his Community Shield strike with his first top-flight goal of the campaign.

Barring one weak Jack Rudoni header, David Raya was a passenger on a stress-free evening for Arsenal and Arteta, who follows Pep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho as just the fifth manager to reach 150 Premier League wins in fewer than 250 games.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

© Iconsport / SPI

"Champions of England, we know what we are."

Based on the evidence seen at the Millennium Stadium and the Emirates Stadium over the past five days, overjoyed Arsenal fans will be bellowing out that iconic chant well into 2028.

A penny for Coventry's thoughts when the Championship champions witnessed the Gunners dismantle Manchester City in the Community Shield, and just like they did in the Welsh capital, Arteta's merciless men did the damage from open play.

Unfairly lambasted for an over-reliance on set-plays last term, Arsenal have convincingly dismissed the Corner FC allegations, although the naysayers may now point to two of tonight's goals coming from mistakes and another a lucky scuff.

But Arsenal forced the errors, and Arsenal took full advantage of the errors, thus passing the first test of their back-to-back title credentials with ease; more thorough examinations are of course to come.

Meanwhile, Coventry's first Premier League match in just over 25 years perhaps went about as expected for supporters of a realistic mindset, but nothing can be read into the visitors' survival prospects after one defeat to the best team in the land. 

ARSENAL VS. COVENTRY HIGHLIGHTS

Kai Havertz goal vs. Coventry (15th min, Arsenal 1-0 Coventry)

The first goal of the 2026-27 Premier League season goes to the reigning champions - it had to!

But Coventry do themselves no favours as Milan van Ewijk fails to clear under pressure, and Riccardo Calafiori produces a marvellous turn to open the angle for a pass.

The Italian swiftly picks out Havertz inside the box, and the German sweeps a clinical first-time finish into the bottom corner.

Cue the Waka Waka.

Bukayo Saka goal vs. Coventry (23rd min, Arsenal 2-0 Coventry)

Too easy.

Declan Rice and Odegaard link up expertly while both are driving through the centre of the pitch, and the former quickly lays off the livewire Christos Tzolis on the left.

The Greek's low cross across the six-yard box is partially intercepted by Carl Rushworth, but the Coventry number one can only push the ball to the feet of Saka, who has the simplest job of tapping home into an empty net.

Martin Odegaard goal vs. Coventry (49th min, Arsenal 3-0 Coventry)

Well... this one certainly belongs in the 'they all count' category.

Saka is on the ball, Ben White makes the overlapping run - tale as old as time - and the right-back has all the time in the world to find Odegaard.

The Arsenal captain goes with his weaker right foot and completely mishits his close-range strike, but with Rushworth moving in the other direction, the visiting goalkeeper can only fingertip the slow-moving ball over the line.

MAN OF THE MATCH - MARTIN ODEGAARD

© Iconsport / PA Images

Back. To. His. Best.

The last two domestic seasons have been largely forgettable from an individual perspective for Odegaard, but after a standout World Cup campaign with Norway, the Arsenal captain is doing the armband proud again.

There was an element of fortune to his goal, but Odegaard also created three chances and won all four of his ground duels, a further hint that a special season lies ahead of him.

ARSENAL VS. COVENTRY MATCH STATS

Possession: Arsenal 65%-35% Coventry

Shots: Arsenal 20-4 Coventry

Shots on target: Arsenal 6-1 Coventry

Corners: Arsenal 8-2 Coventry

Fouls: Arsenal 10-13 Coventry

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

An extremely rare 10-day mid-season break for Arsenal, who play their first away game of the season at Aston Villa on August 31.

Meanwhile, Coventry battle Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Cup second round on Tuesday, before hosting Hull City next Saturday in their first Premier League home game at the CBS Arena.

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