Arsenal to begin Premier League title defence against promoted Coventry

play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificWorld CupMiddle EastExplainedOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomySportHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftTrendingUS-Israel war on IranWorld Cup 2026Tracking Israel's ceasefire violationsRussia-Ukraine warDonald Trumpcaret-rightNews|FootballArsenal to begin Premier League title defence against promoted CoventryThe first match of the 2026-27 Premier League season sees the reigning top-flight champions face the second-tier Championship winners. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoArsenal's Martin Odegaard lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Premier League [Matthew Childs/Action Images via Reuters]By AFPPublished On 19 Jun 202619 Jun 2026Arsenal will kick off their Premier League title defence against promoted Coventry City on August 21. The Premier League fixtures for the 2026-27 campaign were released on Friday, with the Gunners’ home game against Frank Lampard’s Coventry among the highlights in the opening round of matches. Coventry are back in the top flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship last season. Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game as Liverpool manager will be at Newcastle United on August 23. Former Bournemouth boss Iraola’s Anfield debut is set for the weekend of August 29 against Nottingham Forest. Manchester City start life after Pep Guardiola at home to Bournemouth on August 23. City are expected to appoint former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to replace Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of the season after a decade in charge. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso begins his reign with a west London derby at Fulham on August 24. Hull City, who won promotion via the Championship playoffs, begin their first Premier League season since 2017 with a home fixture against Manchester United on August 22. Elsewhere on the first weekend, Europa League winners Aston Villa travel to Brighton & Hove Albion. Arsenal, champions for the first time since 2004, face a testing period after they host Coventry. Mikel Arteta’s side head to Villa for their first away league game of the season, then meet Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on September 5. The weekend of September 12 brings the first Manchester derby of the post-Guardiola era, while Liverpool host Manchester United on November 21. City and Arsenal do not face each other until November 28 at the Emirates Stadium. The first Merseyside derby of the season between Everton and Liverpool is scheduled for November 28 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Roberto De Zerbi will get his first taste of the north London derby on December 5 when Tottenham host Arsenal. The pick of the Boxing Day schedule sees Coventry boss Lampard facing his old club Chelsea on December 26. The final day of the Premier League will take place on May 30, with Arsenal at home to Brighton, while City travel to Sunderland and Liverpool host Bournemouth. Chelsea and United finish at home to Brentford and Fulham, respectively. The start and end of the upcoming season are later than usual due to the FIFA World Cup 2026, which finishes just 34 days before the Premier League begins. Arsenal will face FA Cup winners City in the Community Shield, which serves as the curtain raiser to the top-flight season, on August 16. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: