Key events<\/p>\n
Match report: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City<\/p>\n
\u2026 and with that, this MBM comes to an end. Ed Aarons was at the Emirates, and here\u2019s his report. Thanks for reading this one!<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Frank Lampard\u2019s turn to talk to Sky. \u201cClearly a big challenge \u2026 fantastic team \u2026 a good lesson for our boys \u2026 they played like champions \u2026 the experience is probably good for us \u2026 the goals were not great from us \u2026 you\u2019ve seen more from us than that \u2026 we\u2019ll improve \u2026 I don\u2019t want to judge the lads on that tonight \u2026 I\u2019m calm \u2026 we lost the game and we will learn our lessons \u2026 every game won\u2019t look like that \u2026 I\u2019m not concerned about the touches in the box tonight [Coventry had four] \u2026 the result is what it is \u2026 we\u2019ll go over the detail and get better \u2026 we were a little bit timid in the first half \u2026 Leeds came here last year and lost 5-0 and stayed in the Premier League<\/a> so I\u2019m not making any early judgements \u2026 there are adjustments for us to make and we\u2019ll make them \u2026 it has to be positive even if defeat is hard to take always \u2026 there may be more to do while the window is still open \u2026 we\u2019re pretty happy with where we are at the minute.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky. \u201cThere was a lot to like, right from the beginning \u2026 we were really dominant \u2026 flow \u2026 connected with each other in a really impressive way \u2026 overall very positive \u2026 a lot of big individual performances as well \u2026 I was very impressed \u2026 there were moments after the third goal I wasn\u2019t too happy about \u2026 the compactness of the team \u2026 we need to keep improving \u2026 [Bruno Guimar\u00e3es and Ezri Konsa] are 28, not 38, in their prime \u2026 they are going to give us so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ed Aarons was at the Emirates. Here\u2019s his report \u2026 though if you\u2019re after the views of both managers, make sure to come back here, because this MBM is not done just yet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Coming up \u2026 Next for Arsenal: a trip to Aston Villa on Bank Holiday Monday. Coventry will have played twice by then, after going to Plymouth Argyle in the League Cup next Tuesday, and hosting Hull City at home on the Saturday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Coventry captain Matt Grimes talks to Sky. \u201cDisappointing \u2026 we\u2019ve not been used to losing \u2026 we always knew it would be a tough ask \u2026 we spoke at half-time about being a bit braver \u2026 we were a little bit in our shells in the first half \u2026 so we wanted to give a better account of ourselves \u2026 when you play such a high level of player, little mistakes become big mistakes \u2026 we\u2019re ready for it \u2026 we want to give the season a good go \u2026 our season is not going to be defined by coming to places like this and getting beat \u2026 obviously we wanted to cause a bit of an upset but it wasn\u2019t meant to be \u2026 we learned a lot \u2026 we go again \u2026 we won\u2019t be too disheartened.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Arsenal captain and player of the match Martin \u00d8degaard talks to Sky Sports. \u201cFirst game of the season is always a bit nervy \u2026 they played well \u2026 they gave us a good battle \u2026 we created a lot of chances \u2026 it was solid \u2026 there are things we could have done better \u2026 we could be more precise and sharp around the box \u2026 many times we play a low block \u2026 we need those relationships \u2026 a lot of movement \u2026 even more sharp with the last pass \u2026 the quality in the squad is unbelievable \u2026 we push each other \u2026 [his goal] was not the best finish but I was there!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some numerical admin. The xG finished Arsenal<\/a> 1.80, Coventry 0.28. Meanwhile \u2026 and we do appreciate that some readers might consider this a bit previous \u2026 here\u2019s what tonight\u2019s match has done to the top and bottom of the table. Can anyone catch Arsenal? Can Coventry stage a great escape? Yes, we really should know better; thank you so much for putting up with us.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Emirates breaks into warm applause as Arsenal open their title defence with a fine performance. Martin \u00d8degaard ran the show, Premier League<\/a> debutant Christos Tzolis was a constant threat on the left, Bukayo Saka looks back to his best on the right. They\u2019ll take some knocking off their perch. Coventry meanwhile won\u2019t get a tougher assignment all season \u2013 they\u2019ve just visited the home of the best team in England and the second-best in Europe \u2013 and while the late chance missed by Jack Rudoni will irritate a little bit, if nothing else it proves they\u2019re capable of crafting something against the big teams. And they limited Arsenal to three, when for a while things threatened to get out of hand. Some useful lessons learned. Arsenal\u2019s future is assured; it\u2019s far from the end of the world for the Sky Blues.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>FULL TIME: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City<\/p>\n The champions open their defence with a confident win.<\/p>\n Three goals and three points for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.59 EDT<\/p>\n 90 min +3: \u201cA steep learning curve for the Sky Blues,\u201d writes Robert Jones. \u201cI was expecting an absolute humiliation after the first half, but Coventry have learnt a lot about themselves with a worthy performance in the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90 min +2: Now it\u2019s Coventry fans filling the air with song, as they give Jimmy Hill\u2019s spin on the Eton Boating Song a run out.<\/p>\n Photograph: Marc Atkins\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.52 EDT<\/p>\n 90 min +1: In the first of four additional minutes, Havertz aims for the bottom right from long range. Rushworth gets down to stop.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90 min: Torp balloons the free kick over everyone\u2019s head. Goal kick. On Sky, Jamie Carragher names Odegaard as the player of the match. I\u2019d have gone Tzolis myself, but Carra\u2019s got the caps and medals, so fair enough.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 89 min: Mosquera cynically skittles Awoniyi out on the left, and is fortunate not to go into the book. But it is a free kick, which Torp prepares to send into the mixer.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 88 min: It\u2019s all petering out now. Arsenal<\/a> fans care not a jot, as they run through their champions songbook.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 86 min: \u2026 so having said that, nine seconds later, Torp crosses from the left and finds Rudoni in the middle, six yards out. Rudoni has to score, but slaps a header straight at Raya. That should have been the consolation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 85 min: Onyeka sprays a long pass down the left for Awoniyi to chase \u2026 but there\u2019s simply no way past Mosquera, who escorts him away from danger. Coventry haven\u2019t threatened a consolation at all.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 83 min: Coventry welcome back Hamer, who replaces Tchaouna.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 82 min: Califiori is replaced by Hincapie. Arsenal\u2019s squad depth is outrageous.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 81 min: Zubimendi whips a cross in dangerously from the right. Havertz prepares to head home from close range, but Amenda flicks clear, just in time. A goal-saving clearance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 80 min: Arsenal<\/a> pass the ball around with style and sass. Coventry hold their shape.<\/p>\n Martin Zubimendi passes the ball under pressure from Taiwo Awoniyi and Victor Torp. Photograph: Julian Finney\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.45 EDT<\/p>\n 78 min: Madueke rides a couple of challenges to keep possession down the right, before slipping Merino into space in the box. For once, Merino\u2019s goalscoring radar is off, and his poor shot is easily blocked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 76 min: Merino and Eze come on for Odegaard and Tzolis, who has already earned hero status if the cheer his name receives is anything to go by. Which it is. Deservedly so, given his eye-catching performances so far.<\/p>\n Quantum of Tzolis. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.36 EDT<\/p>\n 74 min: Van Ewijk throws long from the right. Mosquera heads clear. Rudoni nearly nips in from the left, but can\u2019t reach the ball. Coventry still haven\u2019t put Raya to work.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 72 min: Madueke is quickly into the action, swaying down the inside-right before feeding Odegaard infield. Odegaard opens his body and shoots, but his effort is blocked. Arsenal<\/a> come again, and Lewis-Skelly nearly releases Calafiori into the box with a cute pass down the inside-left channel. Rushworth is out quickly to smother and claim.<\/p>\n Bobby Thomas controls the ball whilst under pressure from Noni Madueke. Photograph: Henry Nicholls\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.32 EDT<\/p>\n 70 min: Coventry respond with a double change of their own. Thomas-Asante and the disappointing Simms are replaced by Rudoni and another debutant in Awoniyi.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 69 min: Rice and Saka make way for Madueke and Zubimendi. Arsenal<\/a> in full squad-management mode now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 67 min: Thomas takes a speculative whack from distance. He doesn\u2019t connect properly, the shot dragged harmlessly left, but it looks like the ball takes a nick off Mosquera on its way out of play. Coventry don\u2019t get the corner, and surround the referee, Grimes nearly getting himself booked (or worse) for telling it as he sees it, perhaps even the gentle laying on of hands. The referee stays calm and makes do with a lecture.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.26 EDT<\/p>\n 65 min: Tzolis continues to tear it up down the left. He reaches the edge of the box and tries to slip in Havertz on the underlap; Thomas comes across to concede another corner. Rice swings it in. Rushworth clears. Tzolis meets the dropping ball and fires through the crowd. Rushworth parries, but can\u2019t claim, and Amenda is forced to hoick clear. It\u2019s not been a banner evening for the Coventry keeper.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 63 min: One of Coventry\u2019s debutants, the midfielder Yirenkyi, makes way for Torp.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 62 min: Rice plays the corner short, but Coventry intercept and break en masse. But Dasilva can\u2019t decide who to pass to, and the counter fizzles out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 61 min: Tzolis and Calafiori combine down the left, the latter eventually cutting back for the winger, whose first-time screeching shot pings off Grimes and out for another Arsenal<\/a> corner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 60 min: Simms\u2019 miscontrol was Coventry\u2019s first touch in the Arsenal<\/a> box this evening. It\u2019s been a baptism of fire all right.<\/p>\n