Coventry City will look to end Arsenal’s remarkable unbeaten run against newly promoted teams when the sides meet at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night.
The Sky Blues have added two more first-team players this week as manager Frank Lampard prepares for the club’s first Premier League campaign since 2001.
However, Coventry face a difficult opening assignment against the reigning Premier League champions, with Mikel Arteta’s side aiming to make an early statement to their title rivals.
Arsenal have gone 45 consecutive home matches unbeaten against newly promoted teams, recording 40 wins and five draws. It is the longest unbeaten run against newly promoted opposition in Premier League history.
The Gunners have also won 17 of their 18 matches against promoted sides since the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
Coventry, meanwhile, have lost their last seven away games against teams that were reigning English top-flight champions.
Friday’s fixture will also mark the seventh meeting between Arteta and Lampard as managers. Arteta has won their last four encounters, with Lampard’s only victory coming when Chelsea defeated Arsenal away from home in December 2019.
Neither manager has kept a clean sheet in their six previous meetings across all competitions, adding another intriguing element to Friday’s clash.
