Lampard hails Arsenal as “different level” but backs Coventry to bounce back

Frank Lampard admitted Arsenal were simply “a different level” as Coventry City were beaten 3-0 by the Premier League champions on their return to the top flight.

The Sky Blues were given a daunting opening fixture against the reigning champions at Emirates Stadium and found themselves up against the quality and intensity of Mikel Arteta’s side from the outset.

But Lampard was keen to look beyond the result, praising Arsenal’s performance while insisting Coventry will learn from the experience.

“Arsenal were amazing,” Lampard said, acknowledging the quality his side had faced on their first night back in the Premier League.

“They’re a different level.”

Kai Havertz opened the scoring before Bukayo Saka doubled Arsenal’s advantage, with Martin Odegaard adding a third shortly after half-time as the hosts cruised to victory.

For Lampard, though, the challenge is not to allow the defeat to define Coventry’s return to the Premier League.

“You have to give Arsenal credit,” he said. “They were very, very good.”

The Coventry boss knows his side will face plenty of difficult nights during their first top-flight campaign for 25 years, but believes the experience of playing the champions will ultimately benefit his players.

“This is the level,” Lampard said. “This is what we’ve come up against tonight.”

Rather than dwell on the disappointment, Lampard urged his players to take the lessons from the Emirates and move forward.

“We’ll bounce back,” he insisted.

Coventry earned their place in the Premier League after a remarkable Championship campaign under Lampard, and the former Chelsea midfielder is determined that one difficult night against the defending champions will not change the mood around the club.

“It’s one game,” Lampard said. “We’ve got a long season ahead of us.”

And while Arsenal made the gulf between the champions and newly promoted Coventry clear, Lampard believes his side will have opportunities to show their true level against more comparable opposition.

“We’ve got to take the positives, learn from tonight and go again.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, made the perfect start to their title defence, with Havertz, Saka and Odegaard all finding the net in a convincing 3-0 victory.