Arsenal begin Premier League season with opening win as rivals chase them
Arsenal started their league campaign with a comfortable victory over Coventry, while early-season coverage and pundit forecasts again placed them among the title favourites.
Arsenal opened their Premier League season with a 3-0 win over Coventry, reinforcing their status as the side other clubs are trying to catch. The result came as the new campaign got under way and attention quickly turned to whether they can defend their title.
BBC Sport said 26 of its pundits were asked to name their top four for the 2026-27 season, with Arsenal featuring prominently in those forecasts. ESPN also described Mikel Arteta’s team as the benchmark after their first league outing.
The club have been framed as the team to beat after lifting the championship last season, and that label has followed them into the new campaign. Coverage from other outlets on the opening weekend focused on Arsenal’s strong start and the pressure that comes with being champions.
Elsewhere, the opening round of fixtures continued across the league, including Hull City’s meeting with Manchester United, as broadcasters and media outlets built their coverage around the first weekend of the season.
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