Arsenal begin Premier League Aug.21

Arsenal said its 2026-27 Premier League campaign will begin at home to Coventry City on Friday, Aug. 21, with the defending champions opening the new season at Emirates Stadium. The club's official fixture list says the match will kick off at 8 p.m. UK time and be shown live in Britain on Sky Sports. Arsenal's schedule before that includes the Emirates Cup against Borussia Dortmund and the Community Shield against Manchester City on Aug. 16 in Cardiff. Arsenal go into those fixtures after a 3-1 pre-season defeat by Real Betis on Aug. 5. The club's match report said Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal's goal in Dublin, with Betis winning before Arsenal returned home for the final stretch of pre-season. ### When exactly does Arsenal's league season start? Friday, Aug. 21 is the date Arsenal have given for their first league game of the season. (arsenal.com) The club said Coventry, promoted to the top flight, will visit north London for the opening night of the Premier League campaign. The Premier League's own match page also lists Arsenal against Coventry City on Aug. 21 at Emirates Stadium in Matchweek 1. (arsenal.com) That listing identifies it as Arsenal's first league fixture before trips and home games later in August and September. ### Where do Dortmund and Manchester City fit into the run-up? Borussia Dortmund are Arsenal's opponents in the Emirates Cup, the club said when confirming the pre-season fixture last month. (arsenal.com) Arsenal said that match would be followed by the FA Community Shield against Manchester City in Cardiff on Sunday, Aug. 16. Arsenal's season diary repeats the same sequence. (premierleague.com) The club said its campaign begins with the Community Shield against City before the Premier League opener against Coventry five days later. ### What did the Real Betis result show before those games? Real Betis beat Arsenal 3-1 on Aug. 5 in a friendly in Dublin, according to Arsenal's report from the match. (arsenal.com) The club said Saka got Arsenal on the scoresheet in a game that provided minutes before the final home fixtures of pre-season. Arsenal's official report on the Betis game also pointed directly to what comes next. (arsenal.com) The club said it would face Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup and then take on Manchester City at the Millennium Stadium in the Community Shield on Aug. 16. ### Why is Coventry the opening opponent? Coventry City are the newly promoted side named in Arsenal's fixture release for the opening night. (arsenal.com) Arsenal's announcement framed the match as the start of the club's title defense after winning the league last season. The official schedule published by Arsenal places Coventry first, followed by Aston Villa away on Aug. 31 and Chelsea at home on Sept. 6. (arsenal.com) Those dates set the first steps of Arsenal's early-season run once pre-season ends. ### What are the next dates to watch? Sunday, Aug. 16 is Arsenal's next competitive date, when Manchester City await in the Community Shield in Cardiff, the club said. (arsenal.com) Arsenal's pre-season schedule then turns to the league opener against Coventry City on Friday, Aug. 21 at Emirates Stadium. (arsenal.com)