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COVENTRY City’s first game back in the Premier League after 25 years away ended in a 3-0 defeat at reigning champions Arsenal. Goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard at the Emirates Stadium spoiled Coventry’s top-flight return after a quarter of a century outside of England’s top tier. Frank Lampard handed debuts to summer signings Aurele Amenda, Caleb Yirenkyi and Loum Tchaouna while Taiwo Awoniyi started on the bench. Coventry put their bodies on the line early on as Amenda blocked Saka’s shot from eight-yards while Bobby Thomas cleared Christos Tzolis’ goalbound effort to safety. However, the Gunners broke the deadlock on 15 minutes when Milan van Ewijk lost possession deep inside his own half and Riccardo Calafiori delivered a low cross from the left which Havertz swept into the bottom right corner. And Arsenal doubled their lead on 22 minutes as Saka finished into an unguarded net from seven-yards out after Carl Rushworth could only tip Tzolis’ low cross from the left into the path of the England winger. Coventry looked to respond when Ellis Simms won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, with Gabriel booked for a pull on the striker, but the resulting free-kick came to nothing. The Sky Blues had their first meaningful effort on goal shortly before half time as Tchaouna’s instinctive overhead attempt from outside the box landed on the roof of the net with David Raya backpedalling. Arsenal almost extended their lead in first-half injury time when Declan Rice curled a shot wide of the post when given time and space just outside the penalty area. The Gunners sealed the points four minutes after half time when Odegaard’s mis-hit shot beat a wrong-footed Rushworth who could not prevent the ball from crossing the line. Rushworth then tipped Myles Lewis-Skelly’s first-time curler over the crossbar while Thomas dragged a shot via the aid of a deflection at the other end. Coventry’s best chance came five minutes from time when substitute Jack Rudoni headed Victor Torp’s cross straight at Raya when left unmarked in the box.