Arabic version: أرسنال يفتتح حملة الدفاع عن اللقب بالفوز على كوفنتري

According to BBC News, Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a 3-0 win over Coventry City at Emirates Stadium, where supporters celebrated the club’s first league title in 22 years.

Captain Martin Odegaard said Arsenal’s mentality is to “attack” the title rather than defend it. Kai Havertz, Odegaard and Bukayo Saka scored as Arsenal led 2-0 within 23 minutes, their quickest two-goal advantage since a match against Wolves in 2023.

The result gave Mikel Arteta his 150th Premier League win in fewer than 250 games, making him the fifth manager to reach that mark after Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Odegaard, who was restricted by injuries last season, followed his player-of-the-match display in the Community Shield against Manchester City with another influential performance. He has already scored more goals this season than he managed in 36 appearances last term.

Summer signing Christos Tzolis also impressed on his Premier League debut. The Greece international, signed for £34m after scoring 17 goals and providing 23 assists for Club Brugge last season, helped create Arsenal’s second goal. Arteta said Tzolis had been “phenomenal” in recent games.