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Premier League champions Arsenal host Championship winners Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium in the top flight's curtain-raiser on Friday night.
The Gunners come into this having also beaten Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield to lift more silverware ahead of the new season.
Meanwhile, Coventry return to the Premier League after a 25-year absence, the longest gap of any team in the top flight.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Arsenal vs. Coventry City key stats
- Arsenal are unbeaten in a record 45 home league games against newly-promoted sides (W40, D5).
- Coventry have lost their last seven away league matches against the reigning Premier League champions.
- Coventry have won just once in the previous 14 Premier League H2Hs (D5, L8), but the last was in 2001.
Arsenal vs. Coventry City preview: Gunners to get off to perfect start?
Arsenal vs Coventry — Tale of the Tape
| Arsenal | vs | Coventry |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Position | 7th |
| 0 | Points | 0 |
| 0 | Goals For | 0 |
| 0 | Goals Against | 0 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 1st | Home / Away Rank | 7th |
Arsenal now have the know-how of winning the Premier League after doing so for the first time in 22 years last season.
They have the chance to win back-to-back titles for the first time in the Premier League era, and are the favourites to do so.
Mikel Arteta is one of just 11 managers that were still in charge of their respective clubs last campaign, while he has also been backed once again in the transfer market with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis.
Ezri Konsa is also expected to join but should be unavailable for this game, while Jurrien Timber and William Saliba are injured.
Coventry have no definite absentees at the time of writing, but Ephron Mason-Clark, Jack Rudoni and Haji Wright are all injury doubts.
Frank Lampard has also been backed in the market, with the Sky Blues breaking their transfer record as many as four times!
Newest recruit Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice against Arsenal for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, while record signing Caleb Yirenkyi is among the other names hoping to make their competitive debuts for Coventry.
After storming the Championship last season, it could not be a tougher start for them on their top-flight return.
Arsenal vs. Coventry City form guide & betting tips
| Arsenal | vs | Coventry |
|---|---|---|
N/A |
Form | N/A |
| 0 | Points | 0 |
| 1st | Form Table | 7th |
| 0 | Goals For | 0 |
| 0 | Goals Against | 0 |
WLLWW |
Form (All Comps) | WWDWW |
Whispers predicts: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City
Arsenal are clear 1/5 (1.20) favourites to win, but while we agree with the bookies, we want to explore more ambitious bets.
Our first pick explores the handicap market, and given the gulf between the two teams, Arsenal to win (-2 handicap) at 29/20 (2.45) offers value.
With the Gunners having kept five successive home clean sheets at the end of last season too, BTTS – No at 4/7 (1.57) feels like a safer bet.
In terms of player betting, Christos Tzolis followed up an impressive pre-season with two assists in the Community Shield, so Tzolis to make an assist at 2/1 (3.00) feels worth backing.
Overall, we are predicting a 3-0 Arsenal win, which is available at 6/1 (7.00).
> BTTS – No at 4/7 (1.57) | Likelihood: Probable
> Arsenal to win (-2 handicap) at 29/20 (2.45) | Likelihood: Possible
> Tzolis to make an assist at 2/1 (3.00) | Likelihood: Possible