Arsenal opened their Premier League title defence with a comfortable 3-0 win over Coventry, a performance that suggested they aim to retain the trophy with less struggle than last time. The Guardian's Barney Ronay highlights captain Martin Ødegaard's display as the standout takeaway, seeing early signs that the Norwegian playmaker is returning to form after a season disrupted by injury, even without a marquee new attacking signing to lean on.

Ødegaard played 75 minutes, made 72 touches and completed 55 short passes, underlining his renewed influence in midfield, and capped the display with Arsenal's third goal on 48 minutes, a mishit effort that still beat Coventry keeper Carl Rushworth. The move leading to the goal, driven by Ødegaard from just behind the front line with a delayed pass to Ben White, was seen as more significant than the scrappy finish itself, while youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly also impressed in midfield.