Tzolis shines as Arsenal opens Premier League season by sweeping aside promoted Coventry

LONDON (AP) — Newcomer Christos Tzolis helped set up two goals as defending champion Arsenal opened the Premier League season by dismantling promoted Coventry 3-0 to spoil the visitor’s long-awaited return to the top flight Friday.

After ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title, Arsenal showed why it’s favored to repeat as champion by completely dominating Frank Lampard’s side in a game that was one-sided from start to finish.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard scored for the Gunners, who spurned chances to pad the scoreline even further.

“The perfect start,” Odegaard said.

For Coventry, it was a rude welcome back to the Premier League after a 25-year absence. Having won the second-tier Championship last season by a wide margin, Lampard’s side simply looked outmatched as it was repeatedly taken apart by a marauding Arsenal.

Tzolis was the only summer signing to start for the host but the left winger showed he could give this attack an added dimension by helping to set up both opening goals.

First he stole possession to feed defender Riccardo Calafiori, who squared the ball for Havertz to slot home in the 15th minute. The Greece international then sent a cross in from the left that goalkeeper Carl Rushworth managed to only push into the path of Saka, who scored into an empty net in the 23rd.

(asterisk)Amazing, he played a brilliant game," Odegaard said of Tzolis. "He has been brilliant all preseason. He’s so lively, it’s hard to defend him. He’s a really intelligent player, he always looks up and finds the right pass.”

Odegaard added the third shortly after the break after his scuffed shot looped in out of reach of Rushworth. The Arsenal captain gave an apologetic shrug as a celebration.

"It was not the best finish but I was there,” Odegaard said.

At the other end, the only time Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was troubled was when a speculative overhead kick from Loum Tchaouna from outside the box sailed just high of the bar in the 42nd. The visitor's only effort on target came in the 86th, when Jack Rudoni managed only a weak header straight at Raya.

Arsenal introduced its latest signing, England defender Ezri Konsa, before kickoff after he completed a move from Aston Villa earlier Friday.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Coventry City's head coach Frank Lampard stands by the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Coventry City in London, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Christos Tzolis runs with the ball followed by Coventry City's Brandon Thomas-Asante during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Coventry City in London, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Coventry City in London, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Coventry City in London, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani faced teammate Will Smith in live batting practice on Saturday, but there's no definitive timeline for the two-way superstar to return to pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Wearing long sleeves, Ohtani threw 30 pitches under a blazing sun in 93-degree (34 Celsius) heat and ended the session by giving a thumbs-up.

Among those looking on were pitching coach Mark Prior and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, fellow MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and some of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“We're getting there,” manager Dave Roberts said afterward. “If it were up to Shohei, he'd be in a game in a few days.”

Ohtani hasn't pitched in a game since July 3 because of lingering soreness in his left knee, which is his landing leg while pitching.

“I'd like to think the knee thing is behind us,” Roberts said.

Ohtani is likely to throw another live session next week. Once he returns to the rotation, Roberts said he'll be limited to one, two or three innings as part of a slow buildup.

“The lives are good because you’re actually facing hitters and you can see the mechanics and how they play,” the manager said.

The goal is for Ohtani to be able to make full-length starts once the Dodgers begin their quest for a third consecutive World Series championship in October.

“I could sit here and say, ‘Yeah, six innings when we start the postseason,’” Roberts said, “but he’s still got to do the work and get there, and he’s got to pass some tests and markers. That’s probably the goal, but we still got a ways to get there.”

Meanwhile, Tyler Glasnow will rejoin the rotation and is expected to start Tuesday in Atlanta. It'll be the right-hander's first start since May 6, before he was sidelined with lower back spasms and went on the 60-day IL.

Glasnow will rejoin a rotation of Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

Roberts said Justin Wrobleski is expected to move to the bullpen when the injured starters return.

Closer Edwin Díaz played catch Friday while on the 15-day IL with neck inflammation. He's using the time to rest mechanically after struggling with injuries in his first season with the team.

Roberts indicated Díaz won't be rushed back into the closer's role.

“It's more of getting him back healthy and then putting him in some softer landing situations to get the confidence, to get the feel and the trust of executing pitches,” he said, “and then at that point in time we’ll go from there.”

All-Star outfielder Andy Pages went on the injured list Saturday with a left hand fracture after getting hit by a pitch from Pirates starter Bubba Chandler a night earlier.

“I think they’re probably leaning toward some type of surgery,” Roberts said. “Four weeks is the floor for him to be back with us. Like I told him in the X-ray room, the season’s not over for him and we expect him back full health.”

The team recalled outfielder Alek Thomas from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Thomas was traded to the Dodgers in mid-May from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He'll play center against right-handed pitchers, while Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández could see time against left-handers.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani warms up with a trainer prior to a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani warms up with a trainer prior to a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)