Lampard shares how Coventry can avoid ‘regret’ at Arsenal
COVENTRY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Coventry City manager Frank Lampard during the pre-season friendly match between Coventry City and AS Monaco at The Coventry Building Society Arena on August 14, 2026 in Coventry, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Frank Lampard is pushing his players to go into their first fixture of the campaign with no fear.
The Coventry City manager led the Sky Blues to a historic season as they finished at the top of the Championship with 95 points, reaching the top tier of English football for the first time since 2001.
But it will be an altogether different task to take the team to safety by the end of May 2027.
·‘I want to show we're not coming with fear’
The group could be in for a reality check on Friday evening as they travel to the Emirates Stadium, the home of the newly crowned Premier League champions. Arsenal finally got over the line in the race for the top spot after three successive seasons of 2nd placed finishes, and they also reached the final of the Champions League. The board have backed Mikel Arteta with more recruitment over the summer, and a 3-0 triumph over Manchester City in the Community Shield sent a statement.
Now, the Gunners want to get their title defence off on the right note with a win in front of their fans. It is a pressurised environment for Coventry to step into, but they cannot crumble under the lights.
“The last thing I’d like to have after a game against Arsenal , or any team like this, is a regret of our approach and that we didn’t give it everything. If we do that as a team, then we will compete in this league and show teams what we are. If we don’t, we’ll be disappointed. I’ll remind the players of that.
"I want to show in our performance and how we approach the game that we're not coming into it with fear. We respect Arsenal greatly, but it doesn't mean you play with too much respect that you are passive. We can hopefully show we are a good team that want to do something this year."