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Christos Tzolis added to the excitement with an outstanding display as Arsenal’s key trio were reunited.

There is no doubt about where the Premier League title sits at present.

Across Emirates Stadium, gold ‘Champions’ branding was on display. And instead of the usual ‘The Arsenal’ from the stadium announcer as the players came out, it was ‘The Champions’ that greeted them.

The other 19 Premier League clubs may have to get accustomed to that as well. Arsenal’s bid to retain the league title for the first time since 1935 will not be judged by fixtures like this straightforward 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Coventry.

But the way they went about it will have sent a warning to their title rivals. Arsenal played with real intensity and, perhaps most encouragingly, plenty of attacking invention too.

Mikel Arteta’s team never allowed the evening to become a frustrating one. Nor did they have to depend on their set-piece threat, having already sliced Coventry open well before there was any need to think about a Plan B.

They looked assured and slick. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all endured injury-hit campaigns last season, but each of them got on the scoresheet here. To underline Arsenal’s strength even further, two World Cup winners were introduced from the bench.

Rampant Tzolis already looks a £34m bargain

Five years ago at this ground, Christos Tzolis made his Premier League debut for Norwich against Arsenal. On that occasion, he did not have a meaningful touch near goal, let alone manage a shot.

Now, though, he looks a completely different footballer. He is already appearing to be a £34million bargain.

Tzolis was unplayable in the opening 45 minutes. The winger created three chances — more than any other player on the pitch by the time he went off — including the assist for Saka with a smart ball across goal.

During one frantic minute, Tzolis was picked out three times on the left flank and each time he found a yard of room to send in a delivery. As he trotted back, Arsenal supporters in that part of the stadium stood up to applaud him.

Perhaps aided by having an extra two weeks of pre-season with Club Brugge before completing his move to Arsenal, Tzolis looked exceptionally sharp.

His decision-making was repeatedly spot on and he was relentless in taking on Coventry, whether by driving inside or beating his man on the outside.

Since the beginning of March, Tzolis has either scored or assisted in all 16 competitive club matches he has played. This was his 16th assist during that sequence.

At times he drifted infield, while on other occasions he stayed wide. That worked especially well with Riccardo Calafiori powering forward on the inside.

His confidence was so high that he even pinched the ball from under his captain’s feet inside the box before getting away a shot that was blocked. Tzolis looks a significant upgrade on the left wing.

Arsenal’s big three together once more

Only for the second time since December 2024, Saka, Odegaard and Havertz all started together. Within 48 minutes, all three had scored and the contest was effectively over.

Countless column inches have been spent discussing how Arsenal can develop their style and become a more efficient, fluid attacking side.

A strong starting point would simply be keeping their best players fit consistently. On this evidence, that could prove just as valuable as any new arrivals in the final ten days of the transfer window.

Odegaard’s scuffed finish meant he has already equalled his Premier League goal tally from last season. After starring in the Community Shield, the Arsenal captain appears to be back to his smooth, influential best.

Saka also seems to have put his Achilles injury behind him. That burst of acceleration is back, as he shifted past Jay Dasilva on either side.

He was well placed to tap into an empty net, and that came after he had already been denied by a last-ditch block.

Havertz, meanwhile, remains Arteta’s first-choice striker when available. He improves the players around him, and his assured sweeping finish was an encouraging sign in front of goal.

If Arsenal can keep those three fit for longer stretches of the season, their attack will look very different.

Squad selection sends an ominous signal for Martinelli

Arsenal are now at a stage where established first-team players are being left out of the matchday squad.

Only nine substitutes can be named and, after a relatively quiet summer in terms of departures, the Gunners’ squad is too large.

That may also have offered a hint about what could happen in the final ten days of the transfer window.

Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson were all missing from the squad as Arsenal try to secure moves for them.

Most notably, Gabriel Martinelli was absent too. Speculation over his future continues, although it is not thought that he is pushing to leave the club this summer.

However, the fact that Ethan Nwaneri was given a place on the bench ahead of him — even with Arsenal open to sending the teenager out on loan — does not reflect well on Martinelli’s situation.

Tzolis’s form is not helping matters either. The Greek winger has taken hold of that left-wing role and made it his own.

That has made Arsenal more receptive to the possibility of Martinelli departing. Having now been left out of two matchday squads in the space of a week, the Brazilian’s standing at the club is far from secure.