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Arsenal Will Have to Navigate Tough Start if They’re to Win the 25/26 Premier League Title

By on July 4, 2025

ARSENAL

As the dust settles on the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, attention now turns to the upcoming season, and with it, the question: can Arsenal finally reclaim the English crown? Mikel Arteta’s side fell short last term in what proved to be a two-horse race with Liverpool, and if they’re to go one better in 2025/26, they will have to hit the ground running.

That will be no easy task.

The fixture list has dealt the Gunners a demanding start to the new season, one that could either establish them as title favourites early on—or leave them playing catch-up by the end of September. With Arsenal facing six challenging matches in the first two months, fans with Arsenal tickets know how they fare in that run could shape their entire title bid.

Here’s a closer look at those opening fixtures, the potential pitfalls, and why early form could make or break their campaign.

Matchday 1: Manchester United (A)

Date: August 17, 2025
Venue: Old Trafford

There’s no easing into the season for Arsenal. A blockbuster opener away to Manchester United will offer immediate insight into how both clubs are shaping up under their respective managers. United, under Ruben Amorim, are expected to be a rejuvenated force after a dismal 2024/25 campaign, and while Arsenal boast a strong record against the Red Devils in recent years, this is no guaranteed three points.

It’s the kind of fixture that sets the tone. A win would immediately inject confidence and belief; a draw or defeat would pile pressure on a squad and fanbase desperate for silverware after narrowly missing out last season.

Matchday 2: Leeds United [H]

Date: August 23, 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium

The easiest of the opening games, on paper at least, sees Arsenal take on newly-promoted Leeds United in their first home match of the season. Arsenal have an excellent record against newly-promoted sides in recent years and they’ll be fully expected to pick up three points in this fixture.

Leeds are a big club and will have ambitions of staying in the top flight next season but this will be a real early test for them back in the Premier League. They’d no doubt bite your hand off for a point and the pressure will be firmly on the Gunners to win this encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Matchday 3: Liverpool [A]

Date: August 30, 2025
Venue: Anfield

It doesn’t get much tougher than this; Liverpool at Anfield in matchday 3. Arsenal will travel to the defending champions at the end of August for a match that will set the tone for the entire campaign. A potential title-decider so early is not ideal, and supporters with Liverpool tickets will be confident they can deal an early blow to the Gunners.

If Arteta’s men can get something at Anfield it will instil the belief that they can go all the way in the title race this year. However, defeat would be an early physiological blow and hand the impetus to Liverpool.

Matchday 4: Nottingham Forest [H]

Date: September 13, 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium

After the international break, Arsenal host Nottingham Forest in North London. This is another match that Arsenal will be expected to win, especially if they drop points away to Liverpool last time out.

Forest were one of the surprise packages last season and were right in the mix for a Champions League qualification place until the final weeks of the campaign. This will be a tough game for the Gunners but it’s one they need to win if they’re to make a statement as title contenders again.

Matchday 5: Manchester City (H)

Date: September 20, 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium

Another huge early-season clash. Hosting the champions of three of the past five seasons, Arsenal will be looking to repeat last season’s stunning 5-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s men. City, as ever, will be clinical, disciplined, and dominant in possession. If Arsenal want to stake their claim for the title, they need to beat City at home.

A win here would not only provide a massive psychological boost but also potentially deliver a swing in the title race as early as September. But defeat could once again raise questions about Arsenal’s ability to get over the line.

Matchday 6: Newcastle United (A)

Date: September 27, 2025
Venue: St. James’ Park

The final fixture in this brutal run takes Arsenal to a stadium where they’ve struggled in recent visits. Newcastle United, now an established top-six side, have retained key talents like Alexander Isak and Andreas Gordon, and will be competing in the Champions League once again.

This fixture brings its own pressures—travel, fatigue, and intensity. Arsenal will need to manage the game tactically and physically, especially with European commitments likely starting to crowd the calendar.

Why This Start Matters So Much

The Premier League is no longer a marathon where slow starts can be overcome by winter revivals. In recent seasons, the bar has been set exceptionally high. Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal themselves have all reached or flirted with the 90-point mark. Dropping points early in the season can leave a team chasing perfection for the rest of the campaign—a near-impossible task.

Arsenal’s 2024/25 campaign fell apart due to injuries and late-season inconsistency. But their opening few months were strong, which kept them in the title race deep into spring. Replicating that strong start is not just important—it’s essential.

With two of their main rivals, City and Liverpool, in the first six games, and tricky games with Man Utd, Forest, and Newcastle, Arsenal could either emerge top of the pile or be trailing by six to eight points by October. In a league this competitive, those points could prove decisive.

Squad Depth and Early Momentum

One factor that could work in Arsenal’s favour is the depth they’ve been building under Arteta. The likes of Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Martin Ødegaard provide a strong spine, and recent additions have added quality in key areas. If they can avoid injuries and maintain rotation with minimal drop-off, they’re well-placed to weather this storm.

Momentum also plays a key role. A strong start often breeds confidence and belief. For a team still young in many areas, that belief could be the difference between another “almost” season and a title-winning one.

Final Thoughts

Arsenal’s title challenge in 2025/26 could be defined not in the spring run-in, but in the heat of late summer. Their first six matches form a gauntlet that will test their mettle, organisation, and attacking flair.

Should they emerge with 12–15 points from this stretch, they’ll not only be in the race—they could be setting the pace. But falter, and the pressure to chase down points for the rest of the season could prove too much.

The Premier League rarely forgives slow starts. For Arsenal, the mission is clear: survive—and thrive—in the stormy opening weeks, or risk watching the title drift away before the autumn leaves have even fallen.