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08/21 16:20 CDT Tzolis shines as Arsenal opens Premier League season by
sweeping aside promoted Coventry
Tzolis shines as Arsenal opens Premier League season by sweeping aside promoted
Coventry
By MATTIAS KARN
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) --- Newcomer Christos Tzolis helped set up two goals as defending
champion Arsenal opened the Premier League season by dismantling promoted
Coventry 3-0 to spoil the visitor's long-awaited return to the top flight
Friday.
After ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title, Arsenal showed why
it's favored to repeat as champion by completely dominating Frank Lampard's
side in a game that was one-sided from start to finish.
Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard scored for the Gunners, who
spurned chances to pad the scoreline even further.
For Coventry, it was a rude welcome back to the Premier League after a 25-year
absence. Having won the second-tier Championship last season by a wide margin,
Lampard's side simply looked outmatched as it was repeatedly taken apart by a
marauding Arsenal.
Tzolis was the only summer signing to start for the host but the left winger
showed he could give this attack an added dimension by helping to set up both
opening goals.
First he stole possession to feed defender Riccardo Calafiori, who squared the
ball for Havertz to slot home in the 15th minute. The Greece international then
sent a cross in from the left that goalkeeper Carl Rushworth managed to only
push into the path of Saka, who scored into an empty net in the 23rd.
Odegaard added the third shortly after the break after his scuffed shot looped
in out of reach of Rushworth. The Arsenal captain gave an apologetic shrug as a
celebration.
At the other end, the only time Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was troubled was
when a speculative overhead kick from Loum Tchaouna from outside the box sailed
just high of the bar in the 42nd. The visitor's only effort on target came in
the 86th, when Jack Rudoni managed only a weak header straight at Raya.
Arsenal introduced its latest signing, England defender Ezri Konsa, before
kickoff after he completed a move from Aston Villa earlier Friday.
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