​Coventry City XI vs Arsenal – Predicted lineup and team newsCoventry City return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening, facing the champions in their first top-flight fixture since February 2001.Frank Lampard’s side won last season’s Championship by 11 points, scoring 97 goals in the process — comfortably the most in the division. That attacking identity, built on directness and pace, now faces its sternest possible examination against Arsenal’s defence.Coventry City team newsHaji Wright will not feature. Lampard confirmed at his pre-match press conference that the striker has a serious quad injury that ruled him out of recent friendlies against Espanyol and Monaco. “He won’t be available for a little while,” Lampard said. “It’s certainly going to be a number of weeks, could even be up to 12 weeks.” It is a significant blow, given Wright was Coventry’s first-choice penalty taker and one of their most experienced attacking options.There was more positive news elsewhere. Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni both missed recent pre-season matches but have been confirmed as in contention to face Arsenal. Frank Onyeka, who joined permanently from Brentford after impressing on loan last season, has a slight knock but is expected to be fit enough to start.Several of Coventry’s eight summer signings could make their competitive debuts. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi, winger Loum Tchaouna and centre-back Aurele Amenda are all in contention. Gustavo Hamer returns to the club for a second spell after three seasons with Sheffield United. Taiwo Awoniyi, who joined from Nottingham Forest on Monday, is available but more likely to feature from the bench given his lack of match sharpness.Ellis Simms is expected to lead the line in Wright’s absence. The striker scored 14 times in all competitions last season and already has Premier League experience from his time at Everton. Milan van Ewijk and Jay Dasilva provide the width from full-back, with Bobby Thomas and Amenda forming the central defensive partnership. Matt Grimes and Onyeka anchor the midfield, with Brandon Thomas-Asante completing the front three alongside Tchaouna and Simms.Coventry City predicted lineupCoventry City possible starting XI (4-3-3): Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Dasilva; Onyeka, Yirenkyi, Grimes; Tchaouna, Simms, Thomas-AsanteWhen will the match kick off?The Premier League match kicks off at 20:00 BST on Friday, 21 August 2026.How to watch Arsenal vs Coventry City?The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.Read more – ‘Need to face reality’ – Arteta delivers honest message to Arsenal fringe playersSee also – Carrick confirms Man Utd star will return ‘very, very soon’Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok