[Teams] Arsenal vs Coventry City: Confirmed line-ups for season opener

Champions Arsenal begin the defence of their Premier League title tonight as they welcome newly-promoted Coventry City to the Emirates Stadium.

Having ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title, Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad head into the new campaign as favourites to retain the trophy in the 2026/27 season.

They kick-off the new campaign at home to Coventry City tonight and Arteta will be wanting to lay an early marker down to the rest of the division.

Arsenal No.1 David Raya starts in goal once again but the Gunners are without William Saliba for the foreseeable future. The Frenchman is facing at least two months out with a back injury that he aggravated at the World Cup this summer.

Jurrien Timber is also not involved tonight as he’s still working his way back to full fitness. Ezri Konsa completed a £51m move to Arsenal from Aston Villa today but will have to wait to make his debut.

Therefore, Ben White starts at right-back tonight with Cristhian Mosquera lining-up alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in the middle of defence. Riccardo Calafiori starts at left-back with Piero Hincapie on the bench.

Arsenal’s big-money summer signing Bruno Guimarães isn’t involved this evening after picking up a hamstring injury during the 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend.

Declan Rice is therefore recalled to start in midfield alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly with Martin Zubimendi on the bench. Martin Odegaard captains Arsenal tonight and he’ll be looking to build on an excellent display against City last time out.

Bukayo Saka starts on the right-wing for Arsenal while summer signing Christos Tzolis keeps his place on the left flank. The Greek international has been superb in pre-season having joined from Club Brugge so he’ll be looking to impress on his Premier League debut for the Gunners.

Kai Havertz has been given the nod up front so Viktor Gyokeres has to make do with a place on the bench alongside Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Max Dowman. Gabriel Martinelli isn’t included in the squad amid uncertainty surrounding his future.

Here are the confirmed line-ups:

Arsenal

Raya, White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Tzolis, Havertz.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Eze, Nwaneri, Madueke, Dowman, Gyokeres.

Coventry

Rushworth, Van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Dasilva, Grimes, Onyeka, Yirenkyi, Tchaouna, Thomas-Asante, Simms

Subs: Wilson, Rudoni, Sakamoto, Awoniyi, Kitching, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Torp, Hamer