.svg.png){kind=logo}
Arsenal made light work of Premier League new boys Coventry City as they began their title defence with a statement 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Friday, ESPN reports.
Nigeria internationals Frank Onyeka and Taiwo Awoniyi were in action for the newly promoted side but could not do anything to prevent the opening day defeat.
While Onyeka played 90 minutes Awoniyi, who only joined Coventry from Nottingham Forest a few days ago, came on with 20 minutes left to play.
Mikel Arteta’s side backed up their billing as preseason title favourites with a victory that was never in doubt after Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka scored in the 15th and 23rd minutes respectively.
Captain Martin Ødegaard added a third goal four minutes into the second half to wrap up the convincing win.
The result gave Arteta his 150th win in 249 games in charge in the Premier League, with only Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho, Jürgen Klopp and Sir Alex Ferguson having achieved the feat in fewer games.
After winning their first league title in 22 years last season, Arsenal have their sights on becoming back-to-back English champions for the first time since they won three in a row between 1932 and 1935.
On the day that Arsenal confirmed the signing of England defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, Arteta named the impressive Christos Tzolis as the one newcomer in his starting lineup.
Their biggest signing of the summer, midfielder Bruno Guimarães, missed out after suffering a knock in last week’s Community Shield win over Manchester City.
Arsenal’s first away trip in the Premier League will be at Villa Park where they will face Aston Villa on Monday, August 31.
The Gunners lost to Aston Villa 2-1 in their last visit to the Midlands club.
