Premier League fixtures: Arsenal face tough start to 2025-26 season 

Mikel Arteta's Gunners face heavyweight challenge 

Arsenal face a brutal start to the new campaign in their bid to lift the Premier League title for the first time in more than two decades. 

The North Londoners face a trip to Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season. With the dates of the early fixtures set to be confirmed the match could take place between Friday, August 15 and Monday, August 18.

The second weekend of the year sees the Gunners host newly-promoted Leeds United in their first home game of the fledgling campaign.

Which is then followed up by another blockbuster at Liverpool when Arteta's side will play Arne Slot's champions at Anfield on the final weekend of August. 

Tough clashes continues after the September international break when Arsenal host Nottingham Forest on the weekend of September 13, prior receiving a visit from Manchester City the weekend afterwards. 

Arsenal then face a long trip to Newcastle United on the last weekend of September, before hosting West Ham at the Emirates on October 4 before the international break intervenes again. 

It's no exaggeration to say that after that tough start, we will know exactly whether Arsenal will be in the mix for the title - or whether dreams of winning the Premier League will be over for another year, in what will be an exceptionally challenging start. 

The first north London derby is on November 22, with Thomas Frank's Tottenham visiting the Emirates. The return fixture with Spurs is on February 21.

Over Christmas, Arsenal host Brighton on December 27 and Aston Villa are the visitors to the Emirates on December 30. Liverpool are the visitors to north London on January 7, while the trip to Man City is on April 18.

Arsenal end the season at Crystal Palace on May 24 after visiting West Ham on May 9, with the final home game of the campaign against Burnley on May 17.

Opening weekend of the season confirmed 

Friday, August 15

Liverpool v Bournemouth (8pm)

Saturday, August 16

Aston Villa v Newcastle United (1230pm)

Brighton v Fulham (3pm)

Nottingham Forest v Brentford (3pm)

Sunderland v West Ham United (3pm)

Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley (3pm)

Wolves v Manchester City (530pm)

Sunday, 17 August

Chelsea v Crystal Palace (2pm)

Manchester United v Arsenal (430pm)

Monday, 18 August

Leeds United v Everton (8pm)

There are no games scheduled for Boxing Day but the Premier League has clarified that the matches listed for Saturday December 27 are available to switch to Boxing Day for live broadcast.

And here's the final weekend of the season... on 24 May, with all games taking place at 4pm.

Brighton v Manchester United

Burnley v Wolves

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Fulham v Newcastle United

Liverpool v Brentford

Manchester City v Aston Villa

Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth

Sunderland v Chelsea

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton

West Ham United v Leeds United