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Mikel Arteta said Arsenal\u2019s dominant 3-0 win against Coventry in the opening game of the Premier League season on Friday proved the champions have not lost their hunger for silverware.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arteta\u2019s side picked up where they left off last season, cruising to victory over out-classed Coventry thanks to goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard at the Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n The Gunners have been installed as title favourites and their swaggering display suggested their rivals will struggle to keep up this season.<\/p>\n Arteta was encouraged by the way his players set about overwhelming promoted Coventry with their relentless pressing.<\/p>\n \u201cThey 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,\u201d Arteta said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a lot to like from the performance. It was a great result but also the manner we started the game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was domination, clarity and understanding. It was really impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n Arteta hailed the cohesion between his players as they carved open the Coventry defence time and again, with new winger Christos Tzolis impressing on his league debut after joining from Club Brugge.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were so dominant, we had incredible connections, we were really accurate with the ball,\u201d Arteta said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe players have to be decisive and they were today. They looked really connected and played with a lot of purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if Arsenal\u2019s emphatic win \u2014 on the day they signed Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa \u2014 showed they are stronger than any of their challengers, Arteta said: \u201cNo. Because when I look at the squads some of them are incredible and much bigger than ours.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cEzri is a player we really like in the defensive line. We recruited a great defender, a great personality, so I\u2019m very pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Fight for it again\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, a close-season recruit from Newcastle, was sidelined by an injury, but Arteta does not expect him to be out for long.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t expect it to be weeks at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Odegaard hailed Arsenal\u2019s ideal opening to the new campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cThe perfect start. Three goals and a clean sheet. It was really solid,\u201d the Gunners midfielder said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team\u2019s quality is unbelievable, we see that every day in training. The level we compete at is unbelievable and we all push each other.\u201d<\/p>\n On Arsenal\u2019s belief they can retain the title, Odegaard added: \u201cWe don\u2019t feel we have to defend anything. We want to do it again and that\u2019s the mindset.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year is finished now, we want to do it again and we want to attack it and fight for it again.\u201d<\/p>\n In a damning indication of their lack of threat, Coventry took 60 minutes to manage their first touch in the Arsenal penalty area.<\/p>\n Frank Lampard\u2019s side are back in the top-flight after a 25-year absence and the Sky Blues boss admitted Arsenal had given them a lesson.<\/p>\n \u201cFantastic team, a good lesson for our boys to see the levels. They played like champions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a difficult game for us, the experience of it is probably good for us in terms of the stadium, the atmosphere at the start of the game, the quality that they have.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you concede goals, not great from us and that\u2019s the reality.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n