Arsenal began the defence of their Premier League title in commanding fashion as Mikel Arteta’s side swept Coventry City aside 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium, with Christos Tzolis producing an outstanding opening-night performance.
Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard supplied the goals as Arsenal collected their first three points of the 2026/27 season, but Tzolis was at the heart of much of their best attacking work.
The Greece international carried his impressive Community Shield form into the Premier League opener, repeatedly driving at Coventry’s defence and giving Arsenal another dangerous route into the final third.
Arteta had made one major attacking call before kick-off by starting Havertz ahead of £63million striker Viktor Gyokeres.
It did not take long for that decision to be rewarded.
Havertz justifies major Arsenal selection call
Arsenal initially had to show patience against a Coventry side determined to remain compact and physical.
The breakthrough eventually came through Havertz.
Riccardo Calafiori helped create the opening from the left before the Germany international guided his finish beyond Carl Rushworth to put Arsenal ahead.
Havertz’s opening goal continued his excellent start to the new campaign, having also scored against Manchester City in the Community Shield.
His selection ahead of Gyokeres had dominated much of the build-up.
Havertz provided Arteta with an immediate answer.
Arsenal grew increasingly comfortable after taking the lead, with Tzolis and Saka stretching Coventry on either flank.
Saka then doubled the advantage, giving the champions breathing room and leaving Frank Lampard’s side with an increasingly difficult route back into the contest.
The England international’s goal made it 2-0 as Arsenal began turning territorial control into a convincing scoreline.
Tzolis gives Arsenal another major attacking weapon
The scoreboard did not fully reflect Tzolis’ influence.
His willingness to receive possession wide, attack his defender and carry the ball towards the Coventry penalty area repeatedly forced the visitors backwards.
Arsenal already know what Saka provides on the opposite flank.
Tzolis offering a similarly aggressive threat from the left could give Arteta a far more balanced attack this season.
His movement also combined effectively with Calafiori, with the pair creating situations Coventry struggled to contain.
After providing two assists against Manchester City in the Community Shield, Tzolis has wasted little time showing why Arsenal strengthened that side of their attack during the summer.
There was confidence in virtually everything he attempted.
Odegaard puts Arsenal out of sight
Arsenal’s third arrived through captain Odegaard after another slick attack down the right.
Ben White recognised the space outside Saka and raced forward on the overlap before cutting possession back towards the Arsenal captain.
Odegaard’s finish was not the cleanest strike of the night, but Rushworth could not prevent it from crossing the line.
The goal put Arsenal 3-0 ahead and effectively removed any remaining doubt about the result.
Coventry had arrived with a squad deliberately strengthened through physicality and set-piece ability, but Arsenal largely prevented the contest developing into the type of game Lampard would have wanted.
There was no late drama.
Arsenal professionally controlled the closing stages, protected David Raya’s clean sheet and saw out a comfortable 3-0 victory.
It was precisely the sort of opening night Arteta would have wanted from the defending champions.
Havertz strengthened his claim to remain Arsenal’s starting striker, Saka and Odegaard opened their league accounts and the back line delivered a clean sheet despite the absence of William Saliba.
Tzolis, though, supplied perhaps the most exciting message.
Arsenal already possess one of the Premier League’s most dangerous right-sided attackers.
On the evidence of their first two competitive games of the season, they may now have found a similarly troublesome weapon on the left.
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