While the World Cup has been the (understandably) dominant focus of the footballing and sporting world this month, that hasn’t kept the domestic leagues from minding their duties ahead of next season. One of the biggest non-transfer pieces of news dropped this morning when the Premier League announced their fixture lists for the upcoming 2026/27 season. You can find the full breakdown of the entire league schedule on the Premier League’s official website.
After a title-winning campaign last season,
the question that will hover over Mikel Arteta’s side all season long is “can the Gunners do it again?” Most of that will be in the hands of the manager and the players. Between transfers and the World Cup, the players side of things will be mighty interesting, but that’s going to impact a lot more clubs than just Arsenal.
Then there is the uncontrolled variable of the fixture lists that will have its say in the grand scheme of things. Cup competitions will inevitably collide with the domestic schedule and force a few shakeups, but that’s the price of admission when you’re a top club chasing everything there is to play for.
Now that the fixture list is set, it’s time to take a look at how things could potentially shake out in the league for the Gunners as they look to retain their title.
AUGUST
Friday, 8/21 – Arsenal v Coventry City (H)
Saturday, 8/29 – Aston Villa v Arsenal (A)
Defending champions Arsenal (that’s just fun to say) start the Premier League season proper on a Friday afternoon against newly promoted Coventry City before the rest of the league kicks off on the weekend. Villa away will be interesting. Unai Emery’s side have a habit of starting strong before fading down the stretch.
SEPTEMBER
Saturday, 9/5 – Arsenal v Chelsea (H)
Saturday, 9/12 – Sunderland v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 9/17 – Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal (A)
Hosting Chelsea with new manager (and Arteta’s childhood friend) Xabi Alonso will be the headliner of the beginning of September. Will he have found his footing by then, or will Arteta be able to take advantage of a new manager still sorting out his side? Two tricky away fixtures round out the month with Sunderland and Brighton.
OCTOBER
Saturday, 10/10 – Arsenal v Leeds United (H)
Saturday, 10/17 – Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 10/24 – Arsenal v Everton (H)
Saturday, 10/31 – Liverpool v Arsenal (A)
The beginning of the month looks favorable, while the end sees a pair of Merseyside opponents. Away to Liverpool has rarely been a fruitful occasion for the Gunners, and new manager Adoni Iraola has a knack for fast-paced attacking output. That one should be another cracker.
NOVEMBER
Saturday, 11/7 – Arsenal v Hull City (H)
Saturday, 11/14 – Newcastle United v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 11/28 – Arsenal v Manchester City (H)
Yet another month ends with Arsenal facing a rival bedding in a new manager. Enzo Maresca has big shoes to fill as he takes over for Pep Guardiola at City. Ahead of that match will be a trip to St. James Park where Newcastle have given Arsenal a handful in recent visits.
DECEMBER
Wednesday, 12/2 – Brentford v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 12/5 – Tottenham v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 12/12 – Arsenal v Bournemouth (H)
Saturday, 12/19 – Arsenal v Manchester United (H)
Saturday, 12/26 – Crystal Palace v Arsenal (A)
Wednesday, 12/30 – Fulham v Arsenal (A)
The festive fixture grinder commences. Arsenal hit the road four times in December, but have the major fortune of staying in London all month. The first North London Derby of the season will be telling as Roberto De Zerbi has made major signings and will have the benefit of no European fixtures to bog down the side. Two weeks later, Arsenal host Manchester United for another huge rivalry match as they chase their own return to prominence. Whether or not Arteta’s World Cup players will be back and fully fit by now will be the big question mark.
JANUARY
Saturday, 1/2 – Arsenal v Ipswich Town (H)
Wednesday, 1/6 – Arsenal v Brentford (H)
Saturday, 1/16 – Hull City v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 1/23 – Arsenal v Newcastle United (H)
Saturday, 1/30 – Manchester City v Arsenal (A)
The New Year starts out nicely before ending with the same slate as November, when they host Newcastle and travel to Manchester to face City. I’m sure City will have made another slew of big January signings ahead of that, so who knows what to expect from that one.
FEBRUARY
Saturday, 2/6 – Arsenal v Liverpool (H)
Wednesday, 2/10 – Ipswich Town v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 2/20 – Arsenal v Fulham (H)
Saturday, 2/27 – Manchester United v Arsenal (A)
The fixtures are fewer, but February is bookended with two decisive matches against Liverpool at the Emirates and a trip to Old Trafford. By now, we should start to have a concrete understanding of what Arsenal’s title chances look like while they (hopefully) continue to push for the FA Cup and the CL. The Carabao Cup final will take place in February, but I just cannot care about that competition any less.
MARCH
Wednesday, 3/3 – Arsenal v Crystal Palace (H)
Saturday, 3/13 – Chelsea v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 3/20 – Arsenal v Sunderland (H)
Arsenal stay in London all month once again in the league, with a trip to Stamford Bridge for the second match against Chelsea. The Champions League will be in the knockout stages, which could present the sort of wrinkles that see lineup shuffling and players nursing knocks and niggles.
APRIL
Saturday, 4/10 – Coventry City v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 4/17 – Arsenal v Aston Villa (H)
Saturday, 4/24 Bournemouth v Arsenal (A)
The run-in will be underway, as well as the later stages of the FA Cup and Champions League quarterfinals/semifinals. Villa and Bournemouth could both possibly still be alive in both cups (however unlikely), so the domino effect on those matches could be big for both sides.
MAY
Saturday, 5/1 – Arsenal v Tottenham (H)
Saturday, 5/8 – Leeds United v Arsenal (A)
Saturday, 5/15 – Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (H)
Sunday, 5/23 – Everton v Arsenal (A)
Sunday, 5/30 – Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
The final month of the season could shape up really nicely for the Gunners. A home London Derby will be THE match to watch. It’s a bit surprising that it will come so late in the season compared to recent years, but you simply cannot ask for a better opportunity to potentially seal your title chances. The season ends at the Emirates, and if it all goes as we hope, then the Gunners could very well be hoisting another title, this time in front of their home fans.
It’s a long road ahead for Arsenal, but it at least looks decently manageable as it stands. Our opinions on this will be sure to change as the cup competitions begin to populate the fixture list and the form of opponents wax and wane, but it’s hard to argue that the Gunners got a pretty solid slate, all things considered.
