The most open season in recent memory in the Premier League or back-to-back Arsenal wins?
The 2026-27 top flight returns on Friday night with the champions opening up their title defence with a fascinating encounter at home to newly-promoted Coventry City.
The Gunners certainly go into the campaign as favourites with the bookmakers, given a vast chunk of their rivals are transitioning under new appointments. For manager Mikel Arteta, after finally convincing the doubters last season, he now wants to not only defend the crown but build on it and help create a dynasty.
“Ultimately, the goal is to win as many major trophies as we possibly can, and what we have to do is make sure that we click the fire every day to players and the staff to behave in that manner,” said the Spaniard on the eve of the curtain-raiser. “It’s like building a beast inside you that you want to go through that again, and you know what it’s going to take.”
Arsenal have been bolstered by five new arrivals, the stellar signing being Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United.
In terms of the other title favourites, last year’s runners-up Manchester City begin the post-Pep Guardiola era with a home game against Bournemouth on Sunday. Enzo Maresca will be looking to fashion an emphatic response from his side after their comprehensive defeat by Arsenal in last week’s Community Shield. Incomings at City have been thin on the ground with Elliot Anderson the stand-out purchase at a whopping £116million.
That’s been offset by a raft of departures with James Trafford, Rodri and John Stones just a few of the high-profile exits from the Etihad so far this summer. Liverpool, third favourites with the bookmakers, are also under new management with Andoni Iraola in the dugout following Arne Slot’s sacking. They begin their campaign with a mouth-watering trip to Newcastle United on Sunday – another side under new management – with Matthias Jaissle having been chosen as Eddie Howe’s replacement.
That fixture has conjured up some classic encounters down the years and there will be an added element of poignancy about the game given the recent passing of Kevin Keegan, who was an icon to both fanbases. Elsewhere, Manchester United begin their attempt to end a 14-year title drought as they travel to newly-promoted Hull City for the Saturday lunchtime match.
United are on the cusp of adding Carlos Baleba to their ranks as they go into Michael Carrick’s first full season at the helm. Chelsea, with Xabi Alonso now in charge, have to wait until Monday for their opening game. They make the short hop over to Fulham for a West London derby after a typically lavish summer of signing players, with Morgan Rogers having become the most expensive British player in football after a £117m switch from Aston Villa. openm
The Villans, one of the few sides that haven’t changed manager, have gone through a turbulent summer with Rogers one of a clutch of players having left for pastures new. Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa could well be next in the departures lounge for Villa, who start on Sunday afternoon away at Brighton.
Tottenham Hotspur are involved in the late game on Saturday evening, as they travel to fellow London side Brentford. Roberto de Zerbi has been well-backed in the market with Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke among the big-money arrivals as Spurs look to avoid a repeat of another relegation battle.
Another opening weekend fixture sees Nottingham Forest – with Oliver Glasner now in situ – welcome Leeds to the City Ground. The Whites have made some eye-catching signings such as the aforementioned James Trafford, Harry Wilson and Tarik Muharemović. Ipswich – one of the newly-promoted sides, with Gary O’Neil parachute in as Kieran McKenna’s replacement – host last season’s surprise package Sunderland in another Saturday 3pm contest with Everton at home to Crystal Palace the other fixture on the first Saturday of the new campaign. Palace have replaced Glasner with Frenchman Pierre Sage and there remains an element of intrigue as to how that pans out.
As for the promoted trio, Frank Lampard’s Coventry are widely considered the best-placed to clinch survival given the manner of their summer business with Carl Rushworth and Taiwo Awoniyi the most notable acquisitions thus far.
