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Coventry manager to extend contract pre-Arsenal clash

Frank Lampard appears set to extend his contract with Coventry City this summer, guaranteeing that he’ll be in the dugout for their opening Premier League match against Arsenal in August.

Chelsea's English caretaker manager Frank Lampard (R) speaks with Chelsea's German midfielder Kai Havertz (L) during warm-up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on April 8, 2023. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images

Sky Sports News report that Coventry City manager Frank Lampard is close to agreeing a new deal with the club, with talks progressing for him to extend his stay.

Lampard has a year left on his existing agreement, and the extension is understood to be a long-term one.

The news comes amid the confirmation from the newly-released Premier League fixture list that Coventry City’s first game back in the top flight will be away to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Players of Arsenal celebrate with the Premier League trophy, as Arsenal are crowned the Champions of the Premier League for the 2025/26 Season, after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League)
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League

In fact, Arsenal and Coventry are set to kick off the Premier League season as a whole, with their game taking place on the Friday night ahead of the first weekend of league fixtures.

The game will take place on August 21st at 20:00 BST, and it will be televised in the UK on Sky Sports.

The fixture pits the Premier League champions against the Championship champions, with Coventry having won the second-tier league with 95 points from their 46 matches. Though Arsenal’s 85 points in 38 games means they had the better points-per-game.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, poses for a photograph the Premier League trophy as players of Arsenal celebrate, as they are crowned the Champions of the Premier League for the 2025/26 Season, after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League)
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League

The promoted sides always come up with plenty of excitement for their opening fixtures, with some of the players playing their first minutes in top-flight football, and the whole squad having a point to prove about the fact they belong in the division.

Lampard’s contract extension would mean Coventry also enter the division with some stability at the top, so there’s every chance they could prove a stumbling block for the Gunners.

On the upside, Mikel Arteta’s record against Lampard is excellent. Though he lost his first game against Lampard’s Chelsea and drew the second 2-2, he’s since won four consecutive games against Lampard. He’ll want to make it five in a row in August.

COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1183588211,1196044327 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea (L) and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal . Chelsea and Arsenal meet in a Premier League fixture on January 21, 2020 at Stamford Bridge in London. ***LEFT IMAGE*** BURNLEY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea looks on prior to the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Chelsea FC at Turf Moor on October 26, 2019 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Photos by Jan Kruger and Dan Mullan/Getty Images
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