Arteta Hails Arsenal's Desire after Perfect Start to Title Defense

Mikel Arteta declared that Arsenal's dominant 3-0 win against Coventry in their Premier League opener proved the champions have not lost their appetite for trophies. The Gunners picked up where they left off last season, cruising to victory at the Emirates Stadium with goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard.

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They look exactly the same (as last season) to me. What I did transmit to them was to show more desire and earn the right to be better than everyone else.

Arteta was particularly encouraged by his team's relentless pressing and overwhelming of promoted Coventry. "They look exactly the same (as last season) to me. What I did transmit to them was to show more desire and earn the right to be better than everyone else," Arteta said. "There was a lot to like from the performance. It was a great result but also the manner we started the game. It was domination, clarity and understanding. It was really impressive."

The Arsenal manager also hailed the strong connections between his players as they repeatedly broke down the Coventry defense. New winger Christos Tzolis impressed on his league debut. "We were so dominant, we had incredible connections, we were really accurate with the ball," Arteta noted. "The players have to be decisive and they were today. They looked really connected and played with a lot of purpose."

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We were so dominant, we had incredible connections, we were really accurate with the ball. The players have to be decisive and they were today. They looked really connected and played with a lot of purpose.

When asked if the emphatic win, on the same day Arsenal signed defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, signaled their superiority over challengers, Arteta remained cautious. "No. Because when I look at the squads some of them are incredible and much bigger than ours," he stated. "We look to improve and do what we like is right for us and understand the players who can improve us and give us an edge. Ezri is a player we really like in the defensive line. We recruited a great defender, a great personality, so I'm very pleased."

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No. Because when I look at the squads some of them are incredible and much bigger than ours. We look to improve and do what we like is right for us and understand the players who can improve us and give us an edge. Ezri is a player we really like in the defensive line. We recruited a great defender, a great personality, so I'm very pleased.

Midfielder Martin Odegaard described the opening match as a "perfect start" with three goals and a clean sheet. "The team's quality is unbelievable, we see that every day in training. The level we compete at is unbelievable and we all push each other," he said. Regarding Arsenal's belief in retaining the title, Odegaard added, "We don't feel we have to defend anything. We want to do it again and that's the mindset. Last year is finished now, we want to do it again and we want to attack it and fight for it again."

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The perfect start. Three goals and a clean sheet. It was really solid. The team's quality is unbelievable, we see that every day in training. The level we compete at is unbelievable and we all push each other.