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Figure caption,Arsenal start title defence with comfortable win over Coventry
ByAlex HowellArsenal reporter at Emirates Stadium- Published4 minutes ago
Arsenal started last season as nearly men - but now they have the swagger of winners.
That much can be seen on the approach to Emirates Stadium. Above the entrance to the ground is new signage, a simple message in gold: 'Champions'.
Players and fans alike have taken the confidence of last season's Premier League title win - their first in 22 years - and are using it as the team start their bid to retain it.
The players were each given an introduction as they came out for their warm-up, while the crowd serenaded the team with "champions of England" throughout the 3-0 win over Coventry.
Captain Martin Odegaard discussed in his programme notes how the silverware had given the team "more confidence" and said the mentality of the team is not to defend their title, but to attack it.
"We don't feel we have to defend anything," he told Match of the Day. "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."
Facing a newly promoted side is no easy task, as Arteta's side learned the hard way in their 2021 season opener, losing away to Brentford.
But since then Arteta has transformed the club . With a comfortable win over Coventry, he became just the fifth manager to reach 150 victories in the Premier League in fewer than 250 games - after Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Atmosphere change after success and key players return
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Figure caption,Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City: Mikel Arteta post-match interview
Arteta has made a point of trying to unlock the atmosphere inside Emirates Stadium as he tries to create a fortress for away teams to fear.
So many times last season, Arsenal fans were criticised for their nervous energy and the way it translated to the team as they chased down that elusive league title.
And while this win over Coventry will not define their season, it could be a sign of things to come.
"Let's see when we are 0-0 and when we are maybe losing a game, see how we react," Arteta said when asked by BBC Sport about the atmosphere inside the stadium.
"Today was the start of the game, and the two goals were obviously a good platform for everybody to feel this way. But I think we all learned in the past as well that one really helps the team.
"And certainly in this kind of atmosphere in the stadium, it's just a joy to witness and to play football."
A lot of those nerves last season came from Arsenal having to juggle a number of injuries to key players while dealing with criticism of their style. But there was no anxiety against Frank Lampard's side.
Friday's goalscorers - Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka - all featured in the same Premier League starting line-up just once last season.
With all three in the starting XI against Coventry, the Gunners could play at their dominant best.
Within 23 minutes, Arsenal were 2-0 up - the quickest that they had been ahead by that margin since a match against Wolves in 2023.
Odegaard, so restricted by injuries last season, looks back to his best and followed his player-of-the-match performance in the Community Shield against Manchetser City with another display to demonstrate his importance to this Arsenal team.
Having scored last Sunday and again in the Premier League opener, he already has more goals for the season than the one he managed in 36 appearances last term.
Summer signing Tzolis continues to impress
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Christos Tzolis had four shots against Coventry, two on target
Arsenal have been trying to bring in an elite forward during the window to bolster their attack but summer signing Christos Tzolis has already shown that he could play a significant attacking role this season.
Tzolis arrived for £34m after producing the best season of his career at Club Brugge, where he scored 17 times and provided 23 assists as they were crowned champions in Belgium.
In his short time so far at Arsenal, Tzolis has excited supporters with his performances during pre-season and registered two assists in the Community Shield win over Manchester City. Against Coventry, it was his cross that was turned into Saka's path for Arsenal's second goal.
On his Premier League debut, Tzolis impressed Odegaard. "Amazing, he played a brilliant game," the captain told BBC Sport.
"He has been brilliant all pre-season. He's so lively. It's hard to defend [against] him. He's a really intelligent player. He always looks up and finds the right pass."
And Arteta was also full of praise for the Greece international.
"Well, I love that a player that has been with us just for a few weeks gets this kind of energy every time he's on the ball," the manager said. "I think he's earned it.
"I think the way he has performed in the last few games has been phenomenal. What he transmits as a player is so direct, so incisive, constantly.
"He wants to make things happen and he has an incredible variety of actions in the last 30 metres.
"I think it's up to him to make the right decisions. Even the spaces are sometimes really, really small. I'm very happy with him."
