Reigning champions, Arsenal will begin the defence of their English Premier League title tonight as they host newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.
Recall that Arsenal last season won their first EPL title since 2004 after finishing the 2025/26 season with 85 points, seven ahead of Manchester City.
The Gunners are aiming to defend their English top-flight title for the first time since the 1930s.
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Arsenal have an even bigger target on their back and face a promoted side on matchday one for the first time since 2021, when they were beaten by Thomas Frank’s Brentford. But the side is in a very different state five years later.
The Gunners last Sunday won the FA Community Shield as Mikel Arteta’s side thrashed the Cityzens 3-0 at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, with goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard.
Though the pre-season campaign of the Gunners had its share of bumps, with Arsenal beaten 3-1 by Real Betis in Dublin on August 5 and 3-2 by Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates four days later.
The EPL champions had earlier secured a 4-1 win over Girona before ending with a 1-1 draw against Como.
Arteta confirms the readiness of the London side for the season’s opener against Frank Lampard’s side.
“I feel good, different, hopefully better, more excited than ever, hungrier than ever, and I cannot wait to start the Premier League at home in front of our supporters and have a great performance and win the match.
“They always say, that good teams win titles, but only the absolute greatest. Go and back it up. What’s it about your side that you believe you could go and do again?
“Those teams have an incredible quality, which is to maintain the standards daily at the really highest level. With this opportunity we have, I have no doubt that our players have that desire and that ambition to do that. Now it’s something that we have to earn and do daily,” the Spaniard was quoted as saying by www.aol.co.uk.
