By Amaechi Agbo

Arsenal commenced their Premier League title defense in spectacular fashion.on Friday, brushing aside newly-promoted Coventry City 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

It took just 15 minutes for German forward Kai Havertz to write his name into the history books by scoring the first goal of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

The routine victory extends the Gunners’ perfect opening-day streak to five consecutive seasons and hands manager Mikel Arteta his 150th Premier League victory.

Playing their first top-flight match in 25 years, Frank Lampard’s visitors were quickly overwhelmed by the champions’ signature fluid movement. After heavy pressure from debutant winger Christos Tzolis, Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori broke free on the flank and delivered a low cross. Havertz met it with a crisp, first-time finish into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Only seven minutes later, Arsenal doubled their advantage. Tzolis drove a dangerous cross into the box that Coventry keeper Carl Rushworth could only parry straight into the path of Bukayo Saka, who comfortably tapped into an unguarded net.

The tone remained unchanged after the interval. Just four minutes into the second half, full-back Ben White linked up with Saka before cutting the ball back to Martin Ødegaard. The skipper’s low shot trickled past the keeper to seal a highly comfortable three points.

Coventry offered very little resistance going forward, failing to test goalkeeper David Raya until a late header from Jack Rudoni in the 86th minute. The final whistle confirmed a fifth consecutive clean sheet for Mikel Arteta’s dominant side.

The Premier League opening week fixtures continue on Saturday with newcomers Hull City hosting Manchester United, Everton are at home to Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town will welcome Sunderland, Nottingham Forest will play host to Leeds United while Brentford will receive visiting Tottenham Hotspur.