Coventry City

Coventry boss Frank Lampard, speaking to Sky Sports: "It means a great deal. The story of 25 years, the fanbase and what they were crying out for, we managed to bring that back to the club. Now reality hits and we are at the Emirates."

On if he was excited to face the champions in the opening game: "I guess so. You're going to play Arsenal away at some point. Our season is not going to be defined by this game. Not many people will fancy us, that's fine. The boys can go out at this level and show what they can do."

On if he used Sunderland and Leeds as inspiration for his summer signings: "Without a doubt. It's the way the game has gone. Unfortunately they cost more money the bigger they are and the faster they are. We are happy with what we have done."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Last season: N/A.

It's going to be very tough for the three promoted teams this season, but Coventry City's renaissance under the vibrant leadership of Doug King is a real feel-good story - mirroring Frank Lampard's own renaissance as a manager.

The Sky Blues have shown real ambition in the summer and will, along with other newcomers Ipswich Town and Hull City, relish making a nonsense of naysayer predictions such as this one.

Taiwo Awoniyi will provide a spearhead, while Gus Hamer has returned from Sheffield United and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth has signed permanently following his successful loan from Brighton last season.

Winger Loum Tchaouna has joined from Burnley, defender Aurele Amenda arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt and Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi signed from Nordsjaelland.

No-one can say King and Coventry are not having a go.

So, what's happened in the 89 days that have passed since we last brought a Premier League game to you?

• Spain won the World Cup
• Andy Burnham became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• Almost every viewing of The Odyssey was sold out
• A number of heatwaves

• There was a solar eclipse

Anything else?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, BBC Sport

With the new season under way, BBC Sport has just the thing to keep you entertained every week.

After the success of our World Cup Predictor game, we've rebranded it for the club season as Match of the Day Predictor.

It's simple to play - just predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

And don't worry if you've joined late - players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Once you've submitted your predictions, you'll also be able to see what others think the outcome of the match will be.

The deadline for the opening round of fixtures is before tonight's match kicks off at 20:00 BST. After that, you'll be able to predict the scores for gameweek two straight away.

For more details on how to play and how to build your streak can be found here.

Arsenal

Arsenal's Ricardo Calafiori speaking to Sky Sports on if Arsenal can retain the title: "We are ready to start the season. It will be a long journey. We are focused on this game and we will see after."

On beating Manchester City in the Community Shield: "It was a nice test for us for our mentality after winning last season."

On Coventry: "It's always tough when a new team comes to our league. We know how annoying they can be, but we are prepared."

We asked 26 of our BBC Sport pundits to predict who would win the Premier League and let's just say it was pretty conclusive.

Twenty-three of them tipped Arsenal to win the league again, while Joe Hart, Paul Robinson and Shay Given went with Man City.

Overall expected ranking:

1. Arsenal (109 points)
2. Manchester City (73)
3. Liverpool (38)
4. Chelsea (35)
5. Manchester United (21)
6. Aston Villa and Tottenham (both two)

BBC Sounds

Head over to BBC Sounds right now as Darren Fletcher is joined by Clinton Morrison, Don Hutchison and Kevin Nolan to preview the new season on Premier League Kick-Off, before regular updates of Arsenal v Coventry.

Right then, guys, you all know the drill by now.

Now's your time to get in touch and have your message posted on this very page.

We'll go nice and simple for now - who is going to win the league and who is going down?

GO!

The summer transfer window will close for Premier League and EFL clubs at 23:00 BST on Tuesday, 1 September.

The window opened for a second time this year on Monday, 15 June.

Fifa rules state a transfer window cannot last more than 16 weeks in a calendar year.

Last season, the transfer window for clubs in the Premier League and English Football League closed at 19:00 to move it in line with the working day. However, it has returned to its usual 23:00 slot this season.

The windows in Spain, Germany, Italy all close on the same day, but earlier in the evening. In Ligue 1, the window shuts a day earlier.

Clubs in Scotland have until 17:00 on Thursday, 3 September to complete their business.

The Women's Super League transfer window also closes on Thursday, 3 September.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

Coventry have enjoyed a busy summer transfer window so far, with the Sky Blues bringing in 10 new faces as they prepare for the season ahead. Here are their arrivals so far:

• Frank Onyeka - from Brentford - fee undisclosed, although reports suggest around £6m
• Loum Tchaouna - from Burnley - £20m reported
• Aurele Amenda - from Eintracht Frankfurt - £17.2m reported
• Carl Rushworth - from Brighton & Hove Albion - £22.5m reported
• Caleb Yirenkyi - from Nordsjælland - £26m reported
• Gustavo Hamer - from Sheffield United - £6m reported
• Taiwo Awoniyi - from Nottingham Forest - £9m reported
• Sidiki Cherif - from Fenerbahce - £20.5m reported
• Daniel Bentley - from Wolves - fee undisclosed
• Callum Perry - contract extension - no transfer fee

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal have been busy in the transfer window as they look to strengthen their squad and defend the Premier League title. Here are their arrivals so far:

• Bruno Guimaraes - from Newcastle United - £75m
• Christos Tzolis - from Club Brugge - £34m
• Illan Meslier - from Leeds United - free transfer
• Piero Hincapie - from Bayer Leverkusen - £34.5m
• Ezri Konsa - from Aston Villa - £51m

Image source, Getty Images

The best defence in the Premier League has just added another defender to its ranks.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of England international Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa for a fee worth £55m.

That's quite the signing, isn't it?

Image source, Getty Images

The 2026-27 season will feature an unprecedented number of new laws, mostly designed to tackle tempo disruption and make the game quicker.

The idea is to cut out those moments which cause supporters real frustration, and get more football played without adding on loads of stoppage time.

The changes are intended to change player behaviour, rather than be applied as a strict punishment.

The new rules include:

• Countdowns for goal-kicks and throw-ins
• Time-limited substitutions
• Injured players must now go off for one minute
• No more goalkeeper tactical timeouts?
• Handling the ball in the area
• More VAR

You can read a full breakdown of the rule changes from BBC Sport's football issues correspondent Dale Johnson here.

Image source, Getty Images

Something to look out for tonight and all season...

Quite intrigued to see how Arsenal's new left winger Christos Tzolis gets on tonight. He looked tidy against Man City in the Community Shield win last Sunday.

Fancy him to carry that on?

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter at Emirates Stadium

Mikel Arteta has gone full strength for the first home game of the season.

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka start for the first time since returning from the World Cup.

There is a blow though as Bruno Guimaraes is not in the squad after picking up a knock in the Community Shield.

There's also no place for Gabriel Martinelli who the Gunners will allow to leave the club if the right offer comes in.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta makes two changes to his side from their win over Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are back in the starting line-up but new signing Bruno Guimaraes misses out with an injury and Noni Madueke drops to the bench.

Christos Tzolis, the winger signed from Club Brugge, is set to make his Premier League debut.

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

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

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has named five summer signings in the line-up as the club play their first Premier League since 2001.

Carl Rushworth, Aurele Amenda, Frank Onyeka, Loum Tchaouna and record signing Caleb Yirenkyi, start while Taiwo Awoniyi and Gustavo Hamer are options from the bench.

Coventry City XI: Rushworth, Dasilva, Thomas, Grimes, Yirenkyi, Simms, Onyeka, Thomas-Asante, Amenda, Tchaouna, Van Ewijk.

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

We'll have full team news coming in the next few minutes but I'll tell you now that new Arsenal signing Bruno Guimaraes is absent from the squad but Christos Tzolis starts.

As for Coventry, new boy Taiwo Awoniyi is among the subs.