Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal team have been dealt a tough hand when it comes to their opening six Premier League games of the 2025/26 campaign. Kicking off the new term with a trip to Manchester United on the opening weekend, they then host newly-promoted Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium six days later.
Things really start to ramp up for Arsenal after that as they have a four-game run which features away showdowns at Liverpool and Newcastle United either side of a home double-header against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. In what is a huge year for Arteta and Arsenal in their quest for silverware, it could be a defining period in their campaign when it comes to achieving their goals come May.
If things do go badly for the Gunners then there is of course the potential for them to be out of the title mix so early in the season. Arteta won’t see it like, though, and the same goes for his players.
Instead, the Arsenal boss will view it as a chance to lay down a real marker and send out a major statement in the title race so early in the season. There will certainly be no talk of a tough run of games in the Arsenal camp, which will hopefully soon be boosted by new signings.
The north London club do not have anything to fear if last season is anything to go by. Arsenal fared very well in the corresponding fixtures in 2024/25 and only lost the once.
That defeat came early in the season as Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the game as Newcastle United defeated Arsenal 1-0 at St James’ Park at the beginning of November. They drew away at Manchester United in March, came from 2-0 down to record a point away at champions Liverpool in May and they comfortably beat Nottingham Forest and Manchester City 3-0 and 5-1 respectively.
If anything, it may be the other teams fearing Arsenal rather than the other way around. They did have some tough games in their opening six fixtures last season but they came through them with flying colours.
A 2-0 win away at Champions League newcomers Aston Villa was a real statement and their 1-0 victory at Tottenham in the first North London Derby of the campaign was also impressive. Arsenal were then seconds away from a huge 2-1 win away at Manchester City before John Stones equalised in the dying seconds of the contest.
Arsenal’s fixtures do ease up after their first six matches this season before they face London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea in back-to-back games in November. Again, it will be the other two teams fearing Arsenal as they are the top club in London right now and will be intent on keeping it that way.
Arsenal start the new year with another difficult run, this time facing Liverpool (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Manchester United (H) and Leeds United (A). Manchester City (A) and Newcastle United (H) then come together in April at such a crucial point in the campaign with so much on the line.
If they are to be in the title mix in the final few weeks of the season, Fulham (H), West Ham (A), Burnley (H) and Crystal Palace (A) could hold the key to Arsenal’s aspirations. For that to be the case, the club must navigate their first six Premier League games of the 2025/26 season and send out a message that they really do mean business in the title race.
Arsenal have a huge opportunity to send out a real statement and all connected with the club will be hoping that is the case.
