“You’ll get punished” – Nigerian star warns Coventry City ahead of Arsenal EPL opener
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal, Champions League, Final. Copyright: ImagoxChrisxFoxwellx
The 2026/2027 Premier League season kicks off on the 21st of August, with Arsenal set to take on Coventry City in the opening fixture, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Sky Blue Stars will play top-flight football for the first time since 2001 after Frank Lampard led them to triumph in the EFL Championship last season. Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka was a key player in that team and has warned Coventry against complacency in the Premier League.
Arsenal, meanwhile, broke their 22-year jinx to win a Premier League title with a game to spare, edging Manchester City by seven points.
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal, Champions League, Final Arsenal Defender Piero Hincapià 5, Arsenal Defender Gabriel 6, Arsenal Defender William Saliba 2 & Arsenal Defender Cristhian Mosquera 3 during the Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal at Puskas Arena Park
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal. Copyright: ImagoxChrisxFoxwellx
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Onyeka spent five seasons in the English Premier League with Brentford, but the absence of quality playing time saw him seal a loan move to Coventry City, playing a key role as they sealed a return to the English top flight.
The 28-year-old joined Frank Lampard's side permanently in the summer and has set his sights on staying in the Premier League, and has warned his teammates about the quality of the players they'll be up against.
“I’d have to say Man City, Arsenal, Brighton, Liverpool,” the former FC Augsburg midfielder said in an interview with Coventry Live, telling his teammates what to expect.
“Those are the teams that you know will have the ball a lot and so you need to run and you need to defend.
“Those are the teams that are really getting close to you so you need to be compact and you need to be focused.
Frank Onyeka and Jack Rudoni of Coventry City
Frank Onyeka and Jack Rudoni of Coventry City. Copyright: ImagoxJorgexHorsted/NewsxImagesx
“In terms of individuals, the likes of De Bruyne, Odegaard and Foden because what they do is they are so clever playing behind you so you can’t really see where they are, so I would say those are a few players that you know it’s quite difficult to get to,” Onyeka continued.
“You have to be focussed throughout because, again, you can get punished at any time.
“So we need to be tactically strong and we need to defend well and make sure we take our chances from set-pieces and counter attacks. This has to be one of our strengths.”
Aidan Morris races to intercept Frank Onyeka during the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Middlesbrough
Frank Onyeka in action for Coventry City. Copyright: ImagoxMIxNews
Frank Lampard signed a new contract as Coventry City manager on June 30, 2026, which ties him to the club until 2029, and given the relationship with the coach, Onyeka was delighted the ex-Chelsea midfielder put pen to paper to continue at the CBS Arena.
“It was nice because I’d heard some rumours that he was maybe gonna leave and that was like, oh! But it’s great because he’s a legend of the game and I watched him play.
“And, for me, being proud of this group, you know, it’s huge for me and I’m really grateful that he gave me the opportunity to be here and be part of this club.
“So when I heard I was really happy to be his player and to continue working with him,” the 45-cap Super Eagles star concluded.
Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka
Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka. Copyright: xSFSIxImago
Coventry City will play against Arsenal, Hull City, Manchester City, Brighton and Nottingham Forest in their first five Premier League games.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual CAF-Accredited sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz. With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective. Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world. His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu. A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.