Arteta hails Arsenal’s desire after perfect start to Premier League title defence

LONDON – Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s dominant 3-0 win against Coventry City in the English Premier League season opener on Aug 21 proved the champions have not lost their hunger for silverware.

The Gunners picked up from where they left off last season, cruising to victory over the outclassed Sky Blues, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard at the Emirates Stadium.

Having been installed as title favourites, Arsenal’s swaggering display suggested their rivals will struggle to keep up this season.

Arteta was encouraged by the way his players set about overwhelming promoted Coventry with their relentless pressing.

“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 44-year-old Spaniard.

“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.”

It took just 15 minutes for Havertz to show Arsenal’s intent as he coolly guided a Riccardo Calafiori cross into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box.

New signing Christos Tzolis set up the second goal eight minutes later in what was an impressive league debut following his summer move from Club Brugge.

Picking up a pass from Declan Rice, the Greek winger sent a quick low cross that could only be parried by goalkeeper Carl Rushworth as the lurking Saka tapped the ball in.

Coventry, back in the EPL after 25 years, had to stay patient as Arsenal dominated possession, but they came close at the end of the first half with a looping Loum Tchaouna overhead kick that had goalkeeper David Raya scrambling to get back.

But the Gunners effectively killed the game off four minutes into the second half when captain Odegaard grabbed a third with a scuffed finish that wrong-footed Rushworth.

Arteta hailed the cohesion between his players as they carved open the Coventry defence time and again, saying: “We were so dominant, we had incredible connections, we were really accurate with the ball.

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

Asked if Arsenal’s emphatic win – on the day they signed Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa – showed they are stronger than any of their challengers, Arteta said: “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 recruit from Newcastle United, was sidelined by an injury, but Arteta does not expect him to be out for long.

Odegaard hailed Arsenal’s “perfect” start to the new campaign, adding that the “level we compete at is unbelievable and we all push each other”.

On their belief that they can retain the title, the Norwegian added: “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 manager Frank Lampard said it had been a tough introduction to the EPL for his players, many of whom have never played in the top flight before.

In a damning indication of their lack of threat, the Sky Blues took 60 minutes to register their first touch in the Gunners’ penalty area.

“It’s a big learning curve for the players today,” said Lampard. “Arsenal away will not define our season, it absolutely won’t. But taking on the lessons absolutely will.” AFP, REUTERS