Arsenal vs Coventry Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Arsenal begin their title defence against newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday morning New Zealand time.

The hosts are one of the shortest-priced home sides you’ll see all season. Coventry are back in the top flight for the first time in 25 years, and Frank Lampard brings his Championship winners to north London for a fixture that looks daunting on paper.

In this Arsenal vs Coventry City preview, I look at both sides’ pre-season form and where the goals market might offer value for those getting stuck into some football sports betting ahead of the new campaign.

Arsenal

Pre-season hasn’t been plain sailing for Arsenal. 

Losses to Real Betis (3-1) and Borussia Dortmund (3-2) were followed by a 1-1 draw with Como. But Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield demolition of Manchester City was a different story. Calafiori scored inside 24 seconds, Havertz added a second, and Odegaard finished it off early in the second half.

Bruno Guimaraes started that match after completing his summer move from Newcastle and looked at home alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly. Christos Tzolis got the nod on the left and impressed. Both could feature again in this match.

I’m less sure about their defence though. 

Saliba is out for months with a back injury aggravated at the World Cup, and Timber is still weeks away after groin surgery. Mosquera and Gabriel will partner up again at centre-back, with White at right-back. Against a newly promoted side it should be more than enough, but it’s not the first-choice back line.

Team News: Saliba is a long-term absentee. Timber is weeks away. Saka, Rice, Gyokeres, Eze, Zubimendi and Merino all returned from World Cup duty and are available.

Predicted Lineup: Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes; Saka, Odegaard, Eze; Gyokeres.

Coventry City

After 25 years away from the Premier League, Coventry are back. 

They’ll come into this season with real confidence too, after dominating the Championship - 95 points, 97 goals, the title won by 11. Haji Wright and Ellis Simms combined for 30 league goals, and Gustavo Hamer pulled the strings from midfield.

Their pre-season closed with a 2-0 win over Monaco, where Simms and new signing Loum Tchaouna both scored. That was a controlled display, which is exactly what Lampard would have wanted heading into this.

Coventry have spent around £84 million this summer. Carl Rushworth’s permanent move from Brighton was the headline deal, but he’s no newcomer - he was their number one all last season on loan, won the Championship Golden Glove with 17 clean sheets, and was voted their Player of the Season. Caleb Yirenkyi, their record signing from Nordsjaelland, scored for Ghana at the World Cup and gives Lampard more creativity in midfield. 

I don’t think their squad is deep enough for a full season, but they’ve got players who can cause problems.

Team News: No major injury concerns. Yirenkyi is match-fit after his World Cup involvement. Awoniyi could be registered in time following his expected move from Nottingham Forest.

Predicted Lineup: Rushworth; van Ewijk, Amenda, Kitching, Dasilva; Onyeka, Hamer; Sakamoto, Eccles, Tchaouna; Wright.

• Arsenal have won their opening Premier League fixture in each of the past four seasons.
• Coventry haven’t played in the top flight since being relegated in 2001.
• Arsenal beat newly promoted Leeds 5-0 at the Emirates in August last season.
• Coventry scored 97 Championship goals last season, more than any other second-tier side.
• Arsenal have lost just once at the Emirates in their last 28 Premier League home games.

I can’t see anything other than an Arsenal win. 

Lampard has done good work in the window, but the Emirates on opening night against the champions is about as tough as a first match gets. Arteta’s squad looked clinical in the Community Shield, and with Rice, Saka and Gyokeres coming off the bench there, they’ll all be pushing for starts here.

What I’m less certain about is the margin. A scoreline around 3-1 or 2-0 feels right.

If you’re keen to get some skin in the game on the best betting sites in NZ, the handicap market is where I’d be looking.

Arsenal -1.5 Handicap @ $1.75

At $1.16 on the straight win, there’s nothing to get excited about. The Asian handicap at -1.5 pays a more reasonable price, and I think Arsenal clear it.

Wright has never played in the Premier League, and while Simms has a handful of appearances from his time at Everton, this is a different level of pressure. Arsenal put five past Leeds at the Emirates early last season in similar circumstances. I’m not predicting a repeat, but two goals’ difference or more feels achievable.

At $1.75, this is where I’m putting my money for anyone browsing live betting sites ahead of Saturday’s kick-off.