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Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Coventry City – Tzolis & Saka start, Martinelli axed

By on August 21, 2026

Mikel Arteta arsenal

Premier League football is back as defending champions Arsenal kick-off the new season at home to newly-promoted Coventry City tonight.

Mikel Arteta has been busy strengthening his squad this summer but new signing Bruno Guimarães has been ruled out of tonight’s match after picking up a hamstring injury during the 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend.

David Raya starts in goal once again and he’ll be aiming to win his fourth Golden Glove this season. Riccardo Calafiori gets the nod at left-back ahead of Piero Hincapie while Gabriel Magalhaes marshals the Arsenal defence.

William Saliba is facing a spell on the sidelines with a back injury, Jurrien Timber is still working his way back to fitness and new signing Ezri Konsa isn’t involved tonight having only completed his move from Aston Villa this afternoon. Therefore, Cristhian Mosquera starts in defence along with Ben White.

Declan Rice starts in midfield alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly so Martin Zubimendi is on the bench. Captain Martin Odegaard starts in the attacking midfield role while Bukayo Saka lines-up on the right-flank with Noni Madueke on the bench tonight.

Christos Tzolis has made an impressive start to life since arriving this summer from Club Brugge and he starts on the left flank for Arsenal tonight. Gabriel Martinelli isn’t included in the squad amid rumours he could be leaving.

Kai Havertz leads the line up front for Arsenal so Viktor Gyokeres is among the substitutes along with Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Max Dowman. Ethan Nwaneri is also on the substitutes bench despite reports suggesting he could be on the move before the window closes.

These are the line-ups:

Arsenal

Raya, White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Tzolis, Havertz.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Eze, Nwaneri, Madueke, Dowman, Gyokeres.

Coventry

Rushworth, Van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Dasilva, Grimes, Onyeka, Yirenkyi, Tchaouna, Thomas-Asante, Simms

Subs: Wilson, Rudoni, Sakamoto, Awoniyi, Kitching, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Torp, Hamer