Opening league matches were becoming an issue for Arsenal as the Division One evolved into the Premier League. Since winning the league title so memorably at Anfield in May 1989, the club had suffered from first day nerves, losing 4-1 at Old Trafford, scraping a draw at home against QPR, and being humiliated by Norwich at Highbury.
But surely the 1993/94 campaign would be different. Starting the season at home against Bobby Gould's Coventry, the 4/1 odds on an away victory highlighted the difficulty of the task ahead for the Sky Blues. Graham's team may have developed into a cup team - the first to win both domestic cups in the same season in 1992/93 - yet some experts wondered if Arsenal were ready for another tilt at the title.
