Arteta eases Guimaraes fears after Arsenal beat Coventry 3-0

Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a 3-0 victory over Coventry City at Emirates Stadium on Friday. Bruno Guimaraes, 28, missed the match with a groin problem, but Mikel Arteta does not expect the midfielder to face a lengthy absence.

Guimaraes was substituted during the Community Shield win over Manchester City last weekend and was later seen with ice around his right leg. The Brazil international, who joined Arsenal from Newcastle this month in a reported £75 million deal, was therefore left out of the squad for the opening league fixture.

Arteta said the injury was improving and suggested it should not keep Guimaraes out for several weeks. The manager will assess the player’s progress during the week, while acknowledging that the midfielder had wanted to continue playing after the problem developed.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard scored as Arsenal secured a comfortable win. The result left Coventry 20th in the Premier League with no points from their opening match, having conceded three goals without scoring.

Coventry’s league defeat came despite a strong run before the season began. They had drawn with Northampton Town and Blackburn Rovers and beaten Watford, Wrexham and Portsmouth in their previous five matches. Their next fixture is a home meeting with Hull City on August 29.

Arteta also praised Christos Tzolis after the winger made his home debut following his £34 million move from Club Brugge. Tzolis helped create the opener by winning possession for Havertz and then set up Saka for Arsenal’s second goal before being replaced in the 76th minute. The manager said the new arrival had made a strong impression in his first few matches and had brought an energetic, direct threat in attacking areas.