A Premier League reality check: What Arsenal taught Coventry City
21.08.26, 23:06 Updated 21.08.26, 23:06 5 Minute Read
Rich Chamberlain
Let’s be honest, away to Arsenal on the opening day was never going to define Coventry City’s season.
The 3-0 defeat Frank Lampard’s men suffered is not a fatal blow. What it is, is a warning sign about just how small the margins have become.
Mistakes Coventry might have survived in the Championship were punished ruthlessly. A midfield system that worked beautifully in pre-season was picked apart. And when the Sky Blues did win possession, Arsenal gave them precious little opportunity to do anything with it. Welcome back to the Premier League.
The opening goal was an early demonstration of the difference. Milan van Ewijk failed to win the initial header when the ball was played down the right. That in itself wasn't disastrous. He still had the ball and had a simple pass behind him to Bobby Thomas. Instead, he tried to go down the line. The ball ricocheted off the Arsenal man and then back off van Ewijk. Within seconds, Havertz had stroked it into the net. It was a cruel indication of the difference between the Championship and the Premier League.
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Rich Chamberlain Rich is a lifelong Coventry supporter and the author of several books about the club, including When The Sky Was Blue, Benno: My Life in Football and Sky Blue Fall.