Arsenal 3 Coventry 0: Champions fly out of the traps as Havertz, Saka and Odegaard inflict misery on Frank Lampard

MIKEL ARTETA claims Arsenal do not see themselves as defending the Premier League but are actually “attacking” another title. Although this was the latest example of Arteta-speak, it does sort of make sense. Arsenal kicked off their title defence in style with an emphatic win over Coventry at home Credit: Reuters Mikel Arteta looks like a man with a weight lifted off his shoulders Credit: Getty The Spaniard looks a different person now the weight has been lifted off his shoulders after guiding Arsenal to their first title in 22 years and his team look even hungrier to keep hold of the trophy. After Arsenal wiped out Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield five days earlier, they enjoyed an effortless opening-day win over last season’s Championship winners. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard scored in a victory that was not hugely surprising, as Frank Lampard’s team were always likely to suffer a rough night. The result gives us absolutely no idea how Coventry – back in the top-flight after 25 years – will get on this season and none of their fans should be worried about this in the slightest. Equally, here this was an instant, brutal lesson in what happens when you lose the ball cheaply in defence or your goalkeeper makes an error, like Carl Rushworth did on a couple of occasions. It is obviously early days. But if the first two games are anything to go by, which includes the trip to Cardiff, the handbrake is definitely off an Arsenal team who are playing with both freedom and real menace. It looks as though Arteta is even letting the players enjoy themselves, which was not always the case. It also helps they have recruited well so the Gunners look even stronger. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK New arrival Ezri Konsa, a terrific signing, was unveiled before the game while there was also a huge cheer for £34million winger Christos Tzolis who responded by having a hand in the opening two goals. Bruno Guimaraes is the showpiece signing but a groin injury means he must wait before appearing in the Premier League for Arteta. While many Arsenal fans are still dreaming of another big arrival in attack, they should not get too excited. It seems that Julian Alvarez is unlikely to happen, certainly at this stage, and a few players could be leaving north London. Arsenal cruised to victory against Coventry So even if they do not sign anyone else, Arsenal fans should not be greedy and instead, be happy with what they have got. As for Coventry, we should salute their remarkable rise. On the corresponding weekend nine years ago, they lost 1-0 at home to Newport in League Two. Lampard has spent about £130m on nine players but only four of them started and keeper Rushworth and Frank Onyeka were on loan from last season. Arsenal ticket and hospitality deals GET tickets to see Arsenal home games with these official deals. The packages include optional upgrades to VIP hospitality. 21 Aug v Coventry City — BOOK HERE 6 Sep v Chelsea — BOOK HERE 10 Oct v Leeds United — BOOK HERE 24 Oct v Everton — BOOK HERE 7 Nov v Hull City — BOOK HERE More games available here. *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. Former Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda featured at centre-back while ex-Burnley winger Loum Tchaouna was out wide on the right and the team will have been glad to get off the pitch without a humiliation. It did not help their cause that Arsenal started with a real swagger. It is interesting that Havertz once again started ahead of Viktor Gyokeres. The German did not have a great season as he was injured for half of last term and then spent a lot of time on the bench making only seven League starts. Kai Havertz was seen drifting over to link with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka Havertz’s frustration in the dressing room at London Colney, watching Gyokeres start games, was noticeable. But he started the Champions League final and has got this season off to a flyer, following up his goal against City with the first of the season in the 15th minute. Tzolis, who had a goal-bound shot blocked by Bobby Thomas, lost the ball, won it back and poked it to Riccardo Calafiori. He produced a bobbling pass to Havertz who, as a result, did not manage the cleanest of strikes but it was still enough. Havertz got the Arsenal parade started as Gunners welcomed back their ‘attacking’ champions Credit: Getty It was a baptism of fire for Frank Lampard on Coventry’s return to the Premier League Credit: Alamy Arsenal’s second was a gift by Rushworth who has just completed a £22.5m move from Brighton after spending last season on loan at Coventry. Some in the goalkeeping community believe he could potentially become one of Thomas Tuchel’s top three keepers in the England squad but he will have to do better than this. He pushed a deflected Tzolis cross into the path of Saka who had an easy chance although Declan Rice deserves all the credit for a surging run. Rushworth will also be angry with himself for failing to keep out Odegaard’s goal four minutes into the second half but he was caught out by the fact the Arsenal skipper mishit his shot after a pass from Ben White. Coventry were carved apart by the champions The ball squirmed apologetically into the net but Odegaard did not care. Hilariously, he has now equalled his entire Premier League tally from last season. And the way he is playing, he could also score quite a few more because he, too, looks a different player from the one who struggled with form and injury. The season has continued where it left off for Arsenal, though, and the rest of the Premier League should be afraid. Very afraid. Comment now