Arsenal opened their bid to defend the Premier League title with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Coventry at the Emirates Stadium.

Kai Havertz set the champions on their way inside 15 minutes before Bukayo Saka doubled the hosts’ lead midway through the first half.

Martin Odegaard added a third for Arsenal four minutes after the interval.

There will of course be far sterner tests to come for Mikel Arteta’s side – with Frank Lampard’s Coventry delivered an unenviable opening rubber on their Premier League comeback after 25 years away.

But Arsenal’s one-sided opening-night win cements their status as the bookmakers’ pre-season favourites.

Arsenal’s home matches last season were riddled with anxiety as the Gunners attempted to end a grisly streak of near-misses and land their first title in two decades.

But with the Premier League now safely tucked away in the trophy cabinet, Arsenal will hope to play with more freedom this term as they attempt to retain their crown. And there were certainly signs of that on Friday night, albeit against opposition who are tipped to go straight back down.