Arsenal began the new season with a sense of confidence, showcasing the swagger of champions after winning their first Premier League title in 22 years. As fans approach the Emirates Stadium, they are greeted by new signage that proudly proclaims ‘Champions’ above the entrance.

In their opening match of the season, Arsenal triumphed over Coventry with a convincing 3-0 win. The players received a warm welcome as they were introduced during their warm-up, and the crowd continuously chanted “champions of England,” reinforcing the team’s morale.

Captain Martin Odegaard shared in his program notes that last season’s success has instilled “more confidence” within the squad. He emphasized that the team’s mentality is one of attacking the title again rather than merely defending it. “We don’t feel we have to defend anything,” Odegaard told Match of the Day. “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.”

Facing a newly promoted team in the season opener is always challenging, a lesson learned by Arsenal in their 2021 debut when they lost to Brentford. However, under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta, the club has undergone significant transformation. The win against Coventry marked Arteta’s 150th Premier League victory, making him the fifth manager to achieve this milestone in fewer than 250 games, joining renowned figures like Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Atmosphere Change After Success and Key Players Return

Arteta is committed to fostering a positive atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium, aiming to make it a daunting venue for visiting teams. Last season, Arsenal fans faced criticism for their nervous energy, particularly during intense moments as the team pursued the league title. While the victory against Coventry may not define the season, it could signal promising developments ahead.

“Let’s see when we are 0-0 and when we are maybe losing a game, see how we react,” Arteta mentioned to BBC Sport regarding the stadium’s atmosphere. “Today was the start of the game, and the two goals were obviously a good platform for everybody to feel this way. But I think we all learned in the past as well that one really helps the team. And certainly in this kind of atmosphere in the stadium, it’s just a joy to witness and to play football.”

Injuries to key players had contributed to some nerves last season, but against Coventry, Arsenal played confidently. The goals from Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka were a collective display of strength; notably, this was the first time last season that all three scored in the same match.

Within just 23 minutes, Arsenal raced to a 2-0 lead, marking their quickest ascent to such a margin since a match against Wolves in 2023. Odegaard, who struggled with injuries during the previous season, demonstrated his importance to the team, following up his standout performance in the Community Shield with another impressive display that included a goal, bringing his season tally to more than he managed across 36 appearances last year.

Summer Signing Tzolis Continues to Impress

Amidst efforts to secure a top-tier forward, summer acquisition Christos Tzolis has already begun to assert himself as a vital attacking figure for Arsenal this season. Arriving for £34 million after an outstanding season with Club Brugge, where he netted 17 goals and provided 23 assists, Tzolis quickly made an impression on supporters.

In his brief stint at the club thus far, Tzolis has shown promise during pre-season and contributed two assists in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City. His involvement in the game against Coventry included a precise cross that set up Saka for the team’s second goal.

Odegaard was particularly impressed with Tzolis during his Premier League debut, stating, “Amazing, he played a brilliant game. He’s so lively, hard to defend against, and really intelligent.” Arteta also praised Tzolis, highlighting his dynamic energy and decisive play that has made a significant impact since joining the team.

“I love that a player that has been with us just for a few weeks brings this kind of energy every time he’s on the ball,” Arteta expressed. “His performance in the last few games has been phenomenal, and he wants to make things happen.”

Arsenal started last season as nearly men – but now they have the swagger of winners.

That much can be seen on the approach to Emirates Stadium. Above the entrance to the ground is new signage, a simple message in gold: ‘Champions’.

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Players and fans alike have taken the confidence of last season’s Premier League title win – their first in 22 years – and are using it as the team start their bid to retain it.

The players were each given an introduction as they came out for their warm-up, while the crowd serenaded the team with “champions of England” throughout the 3-0 win over Coventry.

Captain Martin Odegaard discussed in his programme notes how the silverware had given the team “more confidence” and said the mentality of the team is not to defend their title, but to attack it.

“We don’t feel we have to defend anything,” he told Match of the Day. “We want to do it again and that’s the mindset.

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“Last year is finished now. We want to do it again and we want to attack it and fight for it again.”

Facing a newly promoted side is no easy task, as Arteta’s side learned the hard way in their 2021 season opener, losing away to Brentford.

But since then Arteta has transformed the club . With a comfortable win over Coventry, he became just the fifth manager to reach 150 victories in the Premier League in fewer than 250 games – after Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Atmosphere change after success and key players return

Arteta has made a point of trying to unlock the atmosphere inside Emirates Stadium as he tries to create a fortress for away teams to fear.

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So many times last season, Arsenal fans were criticised for their nervous energy and the way it translated to the team as they chased down that elusive league title.

And while this win over Coventry will not define their season, it could be a sign of things to come.

“Let’s see when we are 0-0 and when we are maybe losing a game, see how we react,” Arteta said when asked by BBC Sport about the atmosphere inside the stadium.

“Today was the start of the game, and the two goals were obviously a good platform for everybody to feel this way. But I think we all learned in the past as well that one really helps the team.

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“And certainly in this kind of atmosphere in the stadium, it’s just a joy to witness and to play football.”

A lot of those nerves last season came from Arsenal having to juggle a number of injuries to key players while dealing with criticism of their style. But there was no anxiety against Frank Lampard’s side.

Friday’s goalscorers – Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka – all featured in the same Premier League starting line-up just once last season.

With all three in the starting XI against Coventry, the Gunners could play at their dominant best.

Within 23 minutes, Arsenal were 2-0 up – the quickest that they had been ahead by that margin since a match against Wolves in 2023.

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Odegaard, so restricted by injuries last season, looks back to his best and followed his player-of-the-match performance in the Community Shield against Manchetser City with another display to demonstrate his importance to this Arsenal team.

Having scored last Sunday and again in the Premier League opener, he already has more goals for the season than the one he managed in 36 appearances last term.

Summer signing Tzolis continues to impress

Arsenal have been trying to bring in an elite forward during the window to bolster their attack but summer signing Christos Tzolis has already shown that he could play a significant attacking role this season.

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Tzolis arrived for £34m after producing the best season of his career at Club Brugge, where he scored 17 times and provided 23 assists as they were crowned champions in Belgium.

In his short time so far at Arsenal, Tzolis has excited supporters with his performances during pre-season and registered two assists in the Community Shield win over Manchester City. Against Coventry, it was his cross that was turned into Saka’s path for Arsenal’s second goal.

On his Premier League debut, Tzolis impressed Odegaard. “Amazing, he played a brilliant game,” the captain told BBC Sport.

“He has been brilliant all pre-season. He’s so lively. It’s hard to defend [against] him. He’s a really intelligent player. He always looks up and finds the right pass.”

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And Arteta was also full of praise for the Greece international.

“Well, I love that a player that has been with us just for a few weeks gets this kind of energy every time he’s on the ball,” the manager said. “I think he’s earned it.

“I think the way he has performed in the last few games has been phenomenal. What he transmits as a player is so direct, so incisive, constantly.

“He wants to make things happen and he has an incredible variety of actions in the last 30 metres.

“I think it’s up to him to make the right decisions. Even the spaces are sometimes really, really small. I’m very happy with him.”