Dominant Start for Champions Arsenal Against a Promoted Team

Arsenal started the new Premier League season as expected: The reigning champions gave promoted side Coventry City no chance with a 3-0 home victory.

From the very first minute, the hosts' possession-based machine left no doubt about the winner. With an overwhelming 65 percent possession, the home team pinned the visitors in their own half.

The high-pressure attacking play quickly paid off: After barely fifteen minutes, Riccardo Calafiori set up the in-form Kai Havertz, who slotted the ball into the net for a deserved 1-0 lead (15').

Game effectively decided by halftime

The Londoners remained relentless, while Coventry appeared defensively overwhelmed and offensively completely harmless. Arsenal ruthlessly exploited this: Winger Bukayo Saka already made it 2-0 midway through the first half.

Anyone expecting a comeback from the away team after the break was promptly disappointed. Just a few minutes into the second half, captain Martin Ödegaard extended the lead to 3-0 after fine build-up play from Ben White. The match was thus definitively decided.