“Tough baptism” Ian Wright says Arsenal were under pressure

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Just Arsenal News

·22 August 2026

“Tough baptism” Ian Wright says Arsenal were under pressure

Arsenal beat Coventry City 3-0 in their first league game of the 2026/27 season as Mikel Arteta’s side began their campaign in the best possible manner in their bid to become champions again.

Before the game, everyone expected Arsenal to win, and that put them under pressure to make the best possible start to the season, which they eventually did.

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For Coventry, it was the toughest test they could have faced in their first game back in the top flight, and the gap in quality was obvious for much of the fixture.

The Gunners would have been embarrassed not to win, and that would have put them under even more pressure as the season continued, but they got the job done.

Wright sympathises with Coventry

For Coventry, the game came at the worst possible time, as they would have preferred to face some smaller teams before taking on the Gunners.

Ian Wright feels for them and says it was a match Arsenal simply had to win to start their campaign in the perfect way. He said on BBC Live:

“Arsenal look sharp, it was a tough one for Coventry. Going against a team who are under immense pressure to get it done. Arsenal had so much space, it was a tough baptism for Coventry today.”

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal make perfect start

Wright’s assessment reflects the difficult situation Coventry found themselves in on the opening day. Facing the defending champions immediately meant there was little room for error, while Arsenal had every reason to expect a positive result.

The Gunners took advantage of the space available to them and showed why they were expected to win the fixture. Their performance also ensured that Arteta’s side avoided the pressure that would have followed if they had dropped points.

For Coventry, the result will be disappointing, but the challenge was always going to be considerable. They now have to put the defeat behind them and focus on the rest of the campaign.

Arsenal, meanwhile, can take confidence from their opening victory and continue their title defence with three points already secured. Their strong start also sends an early message to their rivals, who will now have to respond when they begin their own campaigns.

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