Arteta says Arsenal’s title hunger remains after dominant Coventry win

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have retained their desire to win silverware after beginning their Premier League title defence with a commanding 3-0 victory over Coventry at Emirates Stadium on Friday.

The champions produced a performance which suggested they have picked up where they left off last season, controlling the match from the outset and overwhelming the promoted visitors with relentless pressing.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard scored as Arsenal secured an emphatic opening-day victory. Their display also underlined why they have been installed as favourites to retain the title, with Coventry struggling to match the pace and quality of their hosts.

Arteta was particularly pleased with the way Arsenal imposed themselves on the game.

“They look exactly the same (as last season) to me. What I did transmit to them was to show more desire and earn the right to be better than everyone else,” said the Arsenal manager.

“There was a lot to like from the performance. It was a great result but also the manner we started the game.

“It was domination, clarity and understanding. It was really impressive.”

Arsenal repeatedly opened up the Coventry defence through their movement and combination play. New winger Christos Tzolis, who joined from Club Brugge, also impressed on his league debut.

“We were so dominant, we had incredible connections, we were really accurate with the ball,” Arteta said.

“The players have to be decisive and they were today. They looked really connected and played with a lot of purpose.”

Arsenal’s result came on the same day they signed Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa. However, when asked whether the victory showed that his squad was stronger than every title challenger, Arteta played down that suggestion.

“No. Because when I look at the squads some of them are incredible and much bigger than ours.”

“We look to improve and do what we like is right for us and understand the players who can improve us and give us an edge.”

“Ezri is a player we really like in the defensive line. We recruited a great defender, a great personality, so I’m very pleased.”

Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, a close-season arrival from Newcastle, missed the match because of injury. Arteta said the problem was not expected to keep him out for an extended period.

“We don’t expect it to be weeks at all,” he said.

Ødegaard, who scored Arsenal’s third goal, described the result as an ideal way to start the campaign and praised the standards within the squad.

“The perfect start. Three goals and a clean sheet. It was really solid,” the Arsenal midfielder said.

“The team’s quality is unbelievable, we see that every day in training. The level we compete at is unbelievable and we all push each other.”

Arsenal finished last season as champions and Ødegaard said the squad was focused on winning the title again rather than feeling burdened by their status.

“We don’t feel we have to defend anything. We want to do it again and that’s the mindset.”

“Last year is finished now, we want to do it again and we want to attack it and fight for it again.”

Coventry, returning to the top flight after a 25-year absence, did not manage their first touch inside the Arsenal penalty area until the 60th minute.

Their lack of attacking threat reflected the gulf between the teams, and manager Frank Lampard acknowledged that his side had been given a lesson by the champions.

“Fantastic team, a good lesson for our boys to see the levels. They played like champions,” he said.

“It was a difficult game for us, the experience of it is probably good for us in terms of the stadium, the atmosphere at the start of the game, the quality that they have.”

“When you concede goals, not great from us and that’s the reality.”