Three things we learned from Arsenal win as team selection provides ominous transfer clue | OneFootball

Christos Tzolis adds to excitement with impressive display as big three reunited

There is no mistaking where the Premier League crown currently resides.

All around the Emirates Stadium, gold 'Champions' livery serves as decoration. It was the not ‘The Arsenal’ welcomed onto the pitch by the stadium announcer, as is normal, but rather ‘The Champions’.

The other 19 Premier League clubs might have to get used to it, too. Arsenal's attempts to defend a league title for the first time since 1935 will not be defined by matches like this, a comfortable 3-0 over newly-promoted Coventry.

The manner, though, was ominous for their title rivals. Arsenal were full of intensity but, most encouragingly, attacking guile as well.

Mikel Arteta's side did not let this turn into a frustrating night. Nor did they need to rely on their set-piece strengths, cutting apart Coventry long before there was any sense of a Plan B being required.

They were confident and fluid. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard had frustrating campaigns with injury last season, but all were on the scoresheet here. For good measure, and as a further show of strength, two World Cup winners came on as substitutes.

Rampant Tzolis already a £34m bargain

Five years ago at this stadium, Christos Tzolis made his Premier League debut against Arsenal for Norwich. He did not have a meaningful touch in front of goal, let alone a shot.

He is, though, now a completely transformed player. He is also already looking like a £34million bargain.

Tzolis was unplayable in the first 45 minutes. The winger created three chances - more than anyone else on the pitch when he went off - including an assist for Saka with a clever ball across goal.

In one chaotic minute, Tzolis was found three times on the left wing and earned a yard of space on each occasion to deliver a ball in. As he jogged back, the Arsenal fans on that side of the pitch rose to applaud him.

Helped perhaps by an extra two weeks of pre-season at Club Brugge before joining Arsenal, Tzolis looked incredibly sharp.

The decision-making was so often perfect and he was relentless in running at Coventry, whether than be cutting inside or beating his man on the outside.

Since the start of March, Tzolis has scored or assisted in all 16 competitive matches he has played at club level. This was his 16th assist in that run.

At times he drifted across the pitch, on other occasions he held the width. That was particularly effective with Riccardo Calafiori charging forward inside.

The confidence was flowing, so much so he took the ball off his captain's toes in the box to get away a blocked shot. Tzolis looks a major upgrade on that left wing.

Arsenal's big three together again

For just the second time since December 2024, Saka, Odegaard and Havertz started together. Within 48 minutes, all three had scored and the match had been put to bed.

Thousands of column inches have been devoted to discussions on how Arsenal can evolve their style of play and be a more effective, fluent attacking force.

Having their best players fit on a consistent basis would be a good start. On this evidence, that will be as effective as any further signings in the final ten days of the transfer window.

Odegaard's scuffed finish ensured he has already matched last season's tally of Premier League goals. Having starred in the Community Shield, Arsenal's captain looks back to his flowing best.

Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both scored in Arsenal’s win over Coventry

PA

Saka appears to have recovered from his Achilles injury. That burst of pace is back, shifting it past Jay Dasilva either way.

He was in the right place to finish into an empty net and that came after he had already been denied by a last-ditch block.

Havertz, meanwhile, is Arteta's first-choice striker when fit. He brings the best out of those around him and a confident, sweeping finish was a promising sign in front of goal.

Keep those three fit for more significant periods of the season and Arsenal's attack will look very different.

Squad selection ominous for Martinelli

Arsenal are in a position where first-team players have to be left out of the matchday squad.

Only nine substitutes can be named and after a quiet summer so far in terms of sales, the Gunners' squad is too big.

However, it did perhaps offer a clue of what is to come in the final ten days of the transfer window.

Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson were all absent from the squad as Arsenal look to find moves for them.

Most interestingly, Gabriel Martinelli was also not involved. Speculation continues over his future, though he is not believed to be pushing to leave the club this summer.

Not involved: Gabriel Martinelli

However, the fact Ethan Nwaneri earned a space on the bench over him, when Arsenal are willing to loan the teenager out, does not bode well for Martinelli.

The form of Tzolis is not helping either. The Greek winger has grabbed that shirt on the left wing and made it his own.

That has allowed Arsenal to be more open to the possibility of Martinelli leaving. Having now been left out of two matchday squads in a week, the Brazilian's position at the club is far from secure.