Well, nobody told Coventry they were supposed to be scared. Making their long-awaited return to the Premier League, the Sky Blues rocked up at Arsenal and actually gave a decent account of themselves, largely thanks to one man lighting up the occasion like he'd been playing at this level for years.
Christos Tzolis was the standout performer on the day, and honestly it wasn't particularly close. The winger was direct, brave, and caused Arsenal's defence genuine problems throughout the match. For a side that many had pencilled in as prime relegation candidates before a ball had even been kicked, having a player of that quality and confidence in your ranks gives you a real fighting chance. He looked like someone who wanted the big stage, not someone overwhelmed by it.
Arsenal, for their part, were solid without being particularly dazzling. You'd expect Mikel Arteta's side to control a game like this and they largely did, but Coventry made them work harder than perhaps the scoreline or xG stats might suggest. The Gunners have genuine title ambitions again this season and their better players showed quality when it mattered, but this wasn't a vintage performance by any stretch. As a United fan, it brings a small amount of joy to point that out.
For Coventry, the takeaway is genuinely positive. Survival in the Premier League is going to take everything they've got across the full 38 games, but if Tzolis stays fit and keeps performing like this, they have a creative threat that can hurt anyone on their day. The question is whether the rest of the squad can provide enough structure and grit around him to grind out points when it gets scrappy.
Opening day always throws up a few surprises, and Coventry's performance here was one of the more encouraging ones for a newly promoted side. Arsenal will expect to be much sharper as the season builds, but today belonged to Tzolis.
Let me know your thoughts.