Arsenal got exactly the kind of opening day they were hoping for, putting newly promoted Coventry City to the sword with a controlled and confident 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all found the net, and honestly it could have been more if Arsenal had really wanted to twist the knife.
For Coventry, welcome to the Premier League. It is a tough place to visit on the first day of the season, and facing the reigning champions at their place is about as difficult a start as you can get. Nobody expected them to win, and they did not, but the manner of the defeat will sting a little. Arsenal barely had to break sweat, which tells its own story about the gap between the top of the division and the teams coming up from the Championship.
Havertz getting off the mark early will please Mikel Arteta no end. The German had his critics last season before eventually winning people over, and starting with a goal is exactly the kind of confidence boost he will want heading into what promises to be another long title race. Saka, as usual, was electric and looked like a man who spent the summer doing absolutely everything right. Odegaard chipping in with one too is just a reminder that Arsenal have quality running all the way through their side.
From a purely footballing standpoint, this is what champions are supposed to do. You take care of business against the teams you should be beating, you do it without fuss, and you move on. Arsenal did all three. As a Manchester United fan, it is a little painful to admit just how well run that club is right now, but fair is fair and Arteta has built something genuinely impressive.
The real tests will come later in the season when they face the other genuine title contenders, but for now Arsenal fans have every right to feel good about what they saw. Three goals, a clean sheet, and a statement made without even raising their voice.
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