Premier League, Round 1ArsenalARS 21/08/2026 20:00 CoventryCOV Venue Emirates Stadium Referee T. BramallTable of ContentsPreview for Arsenal v CoventryTeam News for Arsenal v CoventryExpected line-ups for Arsenal v CoventryRecent Form & Stats for Arsenal v CoventryWhere to Watch Arsenal v Coventry: TV and online streamsPrediction for Arsenal v CoventryPreview for Arsenal v CoventryCoventry boss Frank Lampard concedes there is no harder place to go than Arsenal but says his side are relishing the opportunity to cause a seismic shock on the opening night of the new season. The Sky Blues cruised to the Championship title last season and have spent heavily over the summer, signing the likes of Caleb Yirenkyi, Sidiki Cherif and Taiwo Awoniyi, as well as bringing Carl Rushworth and Gus Hamer back to the club.As well as the new recruits, there remains a core of players who performed well last season and, according to Lampard, deserve a crack at the big time.He said: Im very excited to be here and get a club thats been out of the Premier League for 25 years back in the Premier League. Of course its exciting at this moment, but we want to challenge, we want to do well as well.Compete in every game we play, take every game as it comes, its cliche, but its also a reality of not getting too far ahead of ourselves.I want them to go in with a lot of belief, theres hopefully a good energy about players that havent played at this level that are desperate to play and deserve to be here and Im talking players like Ephron Mason-Clark, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Matt Grimes.Players who spent a long, long time working in the Championship with the aim of getting to the Premier League.I think thats a good energy for us which we have to tap into, I think everyone should feel the same and it starts at Arsenal, you cant start with a harder place to go.The challenge for Arsenal is to retain the title they won last season for the first time in 22 years.The Gunners are overwhelming favourites to go back to back and the manner of their 3-0 demolition of Manchester City in last weekends Community Shield solidified the suspicion that its going to take something very special to stop them.Leandro Trossard and Christian Norgaard have departed but Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis appear upgrades to an already formidable squad.And boss Mikel Arteta is demanding no let up.He told Sky Sports: When I look into the eyes of my players and I see that fire, that desire and the will to be better every single day. Thats the only thing that I care about.On winning the title again, the Spaniard added: Thats an opportunity that we have ahead, and we are very conscious of what its going to take to deliver that. But I feel the ambition, I feel the desire, and I feel the ability and the conviction around the team that we can do it.Team News for Arsenal v CoventryArsenal defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber remain sidelined. Declan Rice could come in for Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield after starting the Community Shield on the bench.Coventry will be without striker Haji Wright, who top scored with 17 goals in the Championship last season due to a quad injury that could keep him out for up to three months. Cherif or Awoniyi could be handed a debut in attack.Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni are fit after suffering niggles in pre-season.Expected line-ups for Arsenal v CoventryArsenal: Raya; White, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori; Guimaraes, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Tzolis, HavertzCoventry: Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Dasilva; Yirenkyi, Grimes, Torp; Tchaouna, Thomas-Asante, AwoniyiRecent Form & Stats for Arsenal v Coventry Recent Results : Arsenal Premier League Crystal Palace CRY L 1 2 2026-05-24 Arsenal ARS Premier League Arsenal ARS W 1 0 2026-05-18 Burnley BUR Premier League West Ham WES L 0 1 2026-05-10 Arsenal ARS Premier League Arsenal ARS W 3 0 2026-05-02 Fulham FUL Premier League Arsenal ARS W 1 0 2026-04-25 Newcastle NEW No team fixtures found.Where to Watch Arsenal v Coventry: TV and online streamsArsenal versus Coventry kicks off on Friday night at 8pm. It is being shown in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event. You can also stream it on Sky Go.If you live outside the UK, click HERE for details of how to watch the game in your region.Prediction for Arsenal v CoventryIts a horrible fixture first up for Coventry, especially as they try to bed in several new players.Arsenal ought to steamroller the Sky Blues, whose main target is to avoid a hammering that would threaten their early-season optimism. Match PredictionArsenal 4 0 Coventry Topics Arsenal F.C. Coventry City F.C. 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