What exactly happened the last two times Arsenal faced Coventry City is very interesting

Arsenal begin their Premier League title defence by facing Coventry City on the opening day of the new season.

The Gunners were the best team in the country last term, and they are the favourites to retain their crown in the upcoming campaign.

Everyone expects Arsenal to begin the new campaign with an easy win against Coventry, but Frank Lampard will be hoping for an upset.

However, if recent results are anything to go by, it could be a very one-sided affair.

Arsenal battered Coventry City in their last two meetings

Coventry City haven’t been in the Premier League for a long time.

The Sky Blues were last in the English top flight 25 years ago. They were relegated in 2001 after picking up just 34 points in 38 games – just like Manchester City that campaign.

Lampard did a phenomenal job in the Championship last season and has deservedly earned the right to play Premier League football.

Unfortunately for him, his first game in the top division is against the best team in the country, Arsenal.

• Friday 21st August Premier League

  • ArsenalArsenal

    20:00

    CoventryCoventry

The two clubs have faced each other 76 times in history, with the Gunners winning 43 games and losing just 19 over the last 59 years.

Interestingly, since Coventry’s relegation in 2001, Arsenal have played them just twice – once in 2012 in the League Cup and then again in 2014 in the FA Cup.

Arsenal won the first game 6-1 thanks to a brace from Theo Walcott and goals from Olivier Giroud, Andrey Arshavin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ignasi Miquel.

In the second meeting, Arsene Wenger’s men were again convincing winners. They picked up a 4-0 win, with Lukas Podolski scoring twice before Giroud and Santi Cazorla added one each late on.

An aggregate score of 10-1 in their last two meetings shows just how big favourites Arsenal are in the meeting at the Emirates on Friday night.

Mikel Arteta would love a big result, but the Gunners have been stung by a newly-promoted side on the opening day, so they should not take this game lightly.

If Arsenal are at their best, we won’t be surprised at all to see a similar scoreline to the last two times.