The Premier League's new season opened not with a whisper but a roar at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal began life as reigning champions by brushing aside newly promoted Coventry City 3-0.

Outside the Tollington Arms before kick-off, regular Steve Chandler — his replica shirt bearing the number 26 and the word "Champions" — was in full flow. "We're the best team in the country; something I've been waiting to say for a very long time," he said. "And, guess what — we're going to do it again."

A club transformed by their trophy

"Champions" was not just on Steve's shirt. It was plastered across the outside of the ground and emblazoned in huge golden letters above the Clock End, where Coventry fans like Susan Wales waited to file in. This is the psychology of the blunderbuss, but it speaks of a club transformed by their trophy. They are not shy about crowing; this is who they are now. Their own clock has been reset.

Back in the spring, each game here was harrowing torture. As they scrapped for every inch, the sentiment that they were the nearly-men, habitual second-placers locked in a gilded cage, was not implausible. Now? Comfortable. Mikel Arteta is suddenly the longest-serving manager in the division; none of his peers have won the Premier League. With their traditional, legacy rivals in various guises of transition, Arsenal are suddenly the team to beat and the Emirates is suddenly a library of sound.

Coventry's miracle of merely being here

Susan Wales, with her 11-year-old son Josh, both in Coventry's new blue and white shirt echoing the kit they wore when they won the FA Cup in 1987, captured what the day meant. "I know we're not going to win tonight," Susan said beforehand. "I'm not expecting miracles; the miracle is being here in the first place."

Coventry have had their own long wait to endure — far more traumatic and existential than Arsenal's — since dropping out of the Premier League 25 years ago, flatlining into the fourth tier of English football, losing their home ground and playing elsewhere. In that context, a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal barely registers. Bouncing back is in their DNA.

"We were just existing," Susan said. "And there were moments when it was barely even that. We were like the memory of a club. And now we're living. That's the difference." Josh offered simply: "It's magic."

The match

Coventry tore forward, winning a corner after 20 seconds, and looked athletic. When both sets of fans joined in a chorus of "Campeones, campeones" — Coventry finished top of the Championship after all — there was a form of parity. Then Milan van Ewijk messed about on the right side and, bang, it was 1-0. And then Christos Tzolis crossed from the left, Carl Rushworth could only parry and, bang, it was two.

By full time, Arsenal had three, and the night ended with a statement as the Emirates rang to a familiar refrain: "We are top of the league." Suddenly, they may take some shifting.