Arsenal vs Coventry City, 2026-27 English Premier League
· English Premier LeagueArsenal ease past Coventry to start new Prem season
Arsenal opened their bid to defend the Premier League title with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.
Match Commentary
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 1': Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.
- 5': Attempt missed. Christos Tzolis (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard.
- 7': Attempt blocked. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Christos Tzolis with a cross.
- 7': Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Aurèle Amenda.
- 8': Attempt blocked. Christos Tzolis (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben White.
- 8': Offside, Arsenal. Ben White is caught offside.
- 9': Attempt missed. Declan Rice (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Christos Tzolis.
- 11': Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jay Dasilva.
- 12': Loum Tchaouna (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 12': Foul by Declan Rice (Arsenal).
- 13': Attempt blocked. Loum Tchaouna (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ellis Simms.
- 14': Foul by Ellis Simms (Coventry City).
- 14': Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 15': Goal! Arsenal 1, Coventry City 0. Kai Havertz (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Riccardo Calafiori.
- 17': Foul by Caleb Yirenkyi (Coventry City).
- 17': Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 19': Foul by Ellis Simms (Coventry City).
- 19': Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 22': Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 22': Foul by Kai Havertz (Arsenal).
- 23': Goal! Arsenal 2, Coventry City 0. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal following a fast break.
- 24': Foul by Bobby Thomas (Coventry City).
- 24': Christos Tzolis (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 26': Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 26': Foul by Ben White (Arsenal).
- 27': Foul by Caleb Yirenkyi (Coventry City).
- 27': Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 27': Caleb Yirenkyi (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 28': Matt Grimes (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 28': Foul by Kai Havertz (Arsenal).
- 29': Foul by Loum Tchaouna (Coventry City).
- 29': Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 30': Offside, Arsenal. Kai Havertz is caught offside.
- 33': Attempt blocked. Ben White (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard.
- 34': Ellis Simms (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 34': Foul by Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).
- 34': Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 35': Foul by Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City).
- 35': Christos Tzolis (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 37': Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Aurèle Amenda.
- 38': Attempt blocked. Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Christos Tzolis.
- 38': Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 38': Foul by Declan Rice (Arsenal).
- 42': Attempt missed. Loum Tchaouna (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Bobby Thomas with a headed pass.
- 45': Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Aurèle Amenda.
- 45': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
- 45'+1': Attempt blocked. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Bukayo Saka.
- 45'+1': Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jay Dasilva.
- 45'+2': Attempt missed. Declan Rice (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Bukayo Saka following a corner.
- 45'+3': Offside, Arsenal. Kai Havertz is caught offside.
- 45'+3': First Half ends, Arsenal 2, Coventry City 0.
- 45': Second Half begins Arsenal 2, Coventry City 0.
- 47': Offside, Arsenal. Bukayo Saka is caught offside.
- 49': Goal! Arsenal 3, Coventry City 0. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben White.
- 51': Foul by Bobby Thomas (Coventry City).
- 51': Kai Havertz (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 52': Attempt missed. Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Kai Havertz.
- 52': Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Carl Rushworth.
- 56': Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Bukayo Saka.
- 56': Delay in match (Arsenal).
- 57': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 57': Offside, Arsenal. Christos Tzolis is caught offside.
- 59': Foul by Frank Onyeka (Coventry City).
- 59': Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 61': Attempt blocked. Christos Tzolis (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard.
- 61': Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Matt Grimes.
- 62': Attempt blocked. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
- 62': Foul by Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City).
- 62': Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 62': Substitution, Coventry City. Victor Torp replaces Caleb Yirenkyi.
- 65': Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Bobby Thomas.
- 65': Attempt saved. Christos Tzolis (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Carl Rushworth (Coventry City).
- 67': Attempt missed. Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
- 68': Substitution, Arsenal. Martín Zubimendi replaces Declan Rice.
- 68': Substitution, Arsenal. Noni Madueke replaces Bukayo Saka.
- 69': Loum Tchaouna (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 69': Foul by Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).
- 70': Substitution, Coventry City. Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Ellis Simms.
- 70': Substitution, Coventry City. Jack Rudoni replaces Brandon Thomas-Asante.
- 72': Attempt blocked. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Noni Madueke.
- 75': Frank Onyeka (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 75': Foul by Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal).
- 76': Substitution, Arsenal. Eberechi Eze replaces Christos Tzolis.
- 76': Substitution, Arsenal. Mikel Merino replaces Martin Ødegaard.
- 78': Attempt blocked. Mikel Merino (Arsenal) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Noni Madueke.
- 81': Substitution, Arsenal. Piero Hincapié replaces Riccardo Calafiori.
- 82': Attempt missed. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Noni Madueke.
- 82': Substitution, Coventry City. Gustavo Hamer replaces Loum Tchaouna.
- 83': Foul by Frank Onyeka (Coventry City).
- 83': Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 86': Attempt saved. Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by David Raya (Arsenal). Assisted by Victor Torp with a cross.
- 86': Foul by Frank Onyeka (Coventry City).
- 86': Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 89': Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 89': Foul by Cristhian Mosquera (Arsenal).
- 90': Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
- 90'+1': Attempt saved. Mikel Merino (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Carl Rushworth (Coventry City). Assisted by Noni Madueke.
- 90'+2': Matt Grimes (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+2': Foul by Mikel Merino (Arsenal).
- 90'+4': Foul by Aurèle Amenda (Coventry City).
- 90'+4': Kai Havertz (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+5': Attempt missed. Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
- 90'+5': Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Coventry City 0.
- 0': Match ends, Arsenal 3, Coventry City 0.
Statistics
 COV |
ARS |
|
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Fouls | 10 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Offsides | 5 |
| 2 | Corner Kicks | 8 |
| 2 | Saves | 1 |
| 35.5 | Possession | 64.5 |
| 4 | SHOTS | 20 |
| 1 | ON GOAL | 6 |
| 0.3 | On Target % | 0.3 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 265 | Accurate Passes | 561 |
| 337 | Passes | 613 |
| 0.8 | Pass Completion % | 0.9 |
| 1 | Accurate Crosses | 1 |
| 10 | Crosses | 19 |
| 0.1 | Cross % | 0.1 |
| 65 | Long Balls | 31 |
| 33 | Accurate Long Balls | 20 |
| 0.5 | Long Balls % | 0.6 |
| 1 | Blocked Shots | 8 |
| 2 | Effective Tackles | 6 |
| 4 | Tackles | 9 |
| 0.5 | Tackle % | 0.7 |
| 9 | Interceptions | 5 |
| 30 | Effective Clearances | 22 |
| 30 | Clearances | 22 |
Game Information
Competition: English Premier League
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Location: London, England
Attendance: 60,098
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Location: London, England
Attendance: 60,098
Premier League Standings
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 7 | +12 | 21 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 6 | +5 | 15 |
| 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 | +13 | 13 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 7 | +4 | 13 |
Line-Ups
Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | David Raya (GK) |
| 6 | Gabriel Magalhães  |
| 3 | Cristhian Mosquera |
| 33 | Riccardo Calafiori |
| 4 | Ben White |
| 8 | Martin Ødegaard |
| 41 | Declan Rice |
| 49 | Myles Lewis-Skelly |
| 29 | Kai Havertz |
| 17 | Christos Tzolis |
| 7 | Bukayo Saka |
Coventry City (4-1-4-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 19 | Carl Rushworth (GK) |
| 24 | Aurèle Amenda |
| 4 | Bobby Thomas |
| 6 | Matt Grimes |
| 3 | Jay Da Silva |
| 27 | Milan van Ewijk |
| 16 | Frank Onyeka |
| 8 | Caleb Yirenkyi |
| 23 | Brandon Thomas-Asante |
| 18 | Loum Tchaouna |
| 9 | Ellis Simms |
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