“Can be nervy” Odegaard delighted to beat Coventry on opening night

August 22, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

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Martin Odegaard has reacted to Arsenal’s win against Coventry City after the Norwegian scored one of the goals in their 3-0 victory at the Emirates.

Arsenal played at home and were expected to win the match, but this was Coventry’s first game back after being promoted, giving them an opportunity to show that they have what it takes to survive in the league.

Unfortunately for Coventry, their first match of the new season came against one of the strongest teams on the continent and the defending champions, so it was never going to be an easy game.

However, the pressure was on Arsenal, who were playing at home and had beaten Manchester City in their previous competitive game. The Gunners therefore had to avoid failing on the opening night.

Odegaard helps Arsenal secure victory

Although everyone knows Arsenal’s quality, the game could still have proved tricky, but the Gunners avoided an upset and Odegaard helped them secure the win.

The Norwegian captain was pleased to get on the scoresheet and acknowledged that opening games can sometimes be difficult. He also praised Coventry for putting up a strong fight and highlighted the physical nature of their team.

After the fixture, the captain said to BBC Sport:

“It was good to get the first one, the first game can be nervy, Coventry played well and gave us a good fight, they have physical players. After the first goal, we controlled the game a lot more. We look good, still feel like there are things we could have done better, we could be more precise and sharp around the box.”

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Arsenal can still improve

Odegaard’s comments show that Arsenal were satisfied with the result but still believe there is room for improvement. The Gunners controlled the match more effectively after scoring their opening goal, allowing them to manage the game and avoid any late problems.

The victory gives Arsenal an ideal start to their title defence, while Odegaard’s goal will provide the captain with an early boost. However, he knows the team must become sharper in front of goal if they want to maintain their standards throughout the campaign.

For Coventry, the defeat was a difficult introduction to life back in the league, but their performance gave them reasons to believe they can compete. Arsenal, meanwhile, will take the three points and look ahead to their next challenge with confidence.

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