Arsenal start Premier League campaign with Kai Havertz leading attack against Coventry City

Mikel Arteta has named Kai Havertz in a three-man Arsenal attack for the opening round of the Premier League, with Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis completing the forward line against Coventry City.

The Arsenal manager confirmed his starting XI before the match, selecting an attacking trio designed to lead the team’s challenge from the outset of the new league campaign.

Havertz will operate as the central attacking option, with Saka and Tzolis also included in the front three. The selection places the Germany international at the heart of Arsenal’s offensive set-up for their opening fixture.

Arsenal’s full starting line-up is:

David Raya; Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard; Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis, Kai Havertz.

Arteta has therefore opted for a team balancing established attacking and defensive options with a number of players selected across the midfield and back line.

Raya starts in goal, while White, Mosquera, Gabriel and Calafiori form the defensive unit in front of him. Rice and Lewis-Skelly are included in midfield, with captain Martin Odegaard also named in the starting XI.

Saka, Tzolis and Havertz make up the attacking formation confirmed for the match. Their selection means Arsenal will begin their Premier League campaign with a clearly defined front three, led by Havertz.

Coventry City have also announced their starting line-up for the opening-round fixture.

Their team is:

Rushworth; van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Da Silva; Grimes, Onyeka, Yerenki; Chawona, Thomas-Asante, Simms.

Coventry’s XI includes Rushworth in goal, with van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda and Da Silva selected in defence. Grimes, Onyeka and Yerenki form the midfield, while Chawona, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Simms are named in attack.

The two starting line-ups set out the teams’ selections for the first Premier League match of the campaign. Arsenal’s side features Havertz, Saka and Tzolis in the forward positions, while Coventry have chosen Thomas-Asante and Simms among their attacking options.

With both teams’ line-ups now confirmed, the focus turns to the opening fixture itself. Arteta’s decision to start Havertz at the head of Arsenal’s attack is the main feature of the team announcement, while Coventry’s selection sees Thomas-Asante and Simms lead their attacking line.

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