Premier League 2026/27 season preview: can anyone catch Arsenal?
By Arasi Rex · Updated 8 August 2026 · 9 min read
The single biggest question of the new season is whether anyone can catch Arsenal, and on last season's numbers the answer is no. Arsenal won the 2025/26 title on 85 points, seven clear of Man City on 78, with the best defence in the division (27 goals conceded) and the fewest defeats (5). City scored more, 77 to 71, and lost only once more, so the seven-point margin flatters the champions, but it still makes Arsenal the team to beat in the Premier League 2026/27 season preview.
The title race
Start with the numbers, because they decide the argument. Arsenal took 85 points from 26 wins, 7 draws and 5 defeats, and conceded 27. Man City finished second on 78 from 23 wins, 9 draws and 6 defeats, scored a league-high 77 against Arsenal's 71, and let in 35. Seven points over 38 games is a clear margin, so Arsenal are the rightful favourites. The caveat is that the gap flatters them. City lost one more game than the champions, not three, and outscored them by six, so the true distance between first and second was closer than the table reads. This is a two-team title race until somebody else proves otherwise.
| Pos | Club | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Arsenal | 85 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 71 | 27 | | 2 | Man City | 78 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 77 | 35 | | 3 | Man Utd | 71 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 69 | 50 | | 4 | Aston Villa | 65 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 56 | 49 | | 5 | Liverpool | 60 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 63 | 53 |
Behind the top two the drop is steep, and that is what makes this a two-team race. Man Utd finished third on 71 points but conceded 50 goals, more than the fourth-placed side they finished above, and still ended seven points behind City. Liverpool, fifth on 60, were eighteen points off second. One profile defends badly, the other never got close, and neither reads as a title challenger's. The full final table is on the table page.
The top four
The top four is the same four clubs as last season until someone forces the issue. Arsenal and Man City are not part of this conversation. Aston Villa took fourth on 65 points, five clear of the side below them, and that buffer is what the challengers have to erase. Man Utd finished third on 71, but the 50 goals they conceded is the worst defensive record of the four, which makes them the most exposed to a slip.
The interesting fight is the one to join them. Liverpool are the obvious candidate: 60 points, 63 goals scored, one good run from the conversation. The side built to jump them, though, is Bournemouth. Sixth on 57 points from 13 wins and 18 draws sounds mid-table until you look at the defeats column: 7, fewer than every side outside the top three, level with Man Utd. A team that loses that rarely is one better conversion rate from top-four territory, and 18 draws is the kind of number that turns into wins. Newcastle, 12th on 49, and Brighton, 8th on 53, start further back. The European qualification guide breaks down what each finish actually buys.
The promoted clubs
The three promoted clubs are Ipswich Town, Coventry City and Hull City, and they replace West Ham, Burnley and Wolves. West Ham went down in 18th on 39 points, Burnley in 19th on 22, Wolves in 20th on 20. That is the bar the newcomers have to clear, and with no top-flight matches behind them yet, the only evidence we have is the fixture list.
The fixture list is not kind. Coventry open at Arsenal, host Hull, then travel to Man City. Hull start at home to Man Utd before the trip to Coventry and a home game against Aston Villa. Ipswich are the only one of the three with a winnable opener on paper, at home to Sunderland, who finished 7th on 54 points, before Man Utd away and Liverpool at home. Every promoted club meets last season's top four inside the opening three rounds, and two of them meet two.
The second round throws the newcomers into each other's way. Coventry v Hull on 29 August is the first all-promoted fixture of the season, and for the loser the opening month is already a fight. The survival line is visible in last season's table: 41 points kept Spurs up in 17th, 39 sent West Ham down in 18th. How the three got here is covered in the promotion guide, and what relegation means is in the relegation guide.
The relegation picture
Name three, and all three finished within six points of last season's drop. Crystal Palace were 15th on 45 points with 41 goals scored, the fewest of any club that stayed up, and 11 wins. Nott'm Forest were 16th on 44, a single point behind them. Spurs were 17th on 41 with 10 wins and 57 goals conceded, the worst defensive record of any survivor, two points above the line.
Above them the cushion is thin. Leeds finished 14th on 47 points and Everton 13th on 49, six and eight points clear of 17th respectively. One bad month pulls any of that cluster into the picture, and the promoted sides make the bottom of the table more crowded, not less. Every side in this cluster either scored 49 or fewer or conceded 50 or more, so the escape route runs through whichever defence holds first.
The opening fixtures
The friendliest starts belong to the top of the table. Man City get Bournemouth at home, Crystal Palace away and Coventry at home, three games against sides who finished 6th, 15th and in the promoted places. Man Utd face Hull away, Ipswich at home and Everton away. Arsenal open at home to Coventry on the Friday night, then travel to Aston Villa and host Chelsea, who finished 10th on 52 points. None of the three title-relevant starts is a crisis.
The hard starts are concentrated at the bottom. All three promoted clubs meet last season's top four inside the opening three rounds. Spurs begin at Brentford, who finished 9th on 53 points, then travel to Newcastle and Nott'm Forest, three clubs who all finished above them last season. Crystal Palace start at Everton, then host Man City, then travel to Fulham, who finished 11th on 52 points. The Monday night game is the most even of the round: Fulham against Chelsea, two sides separated only by goal difference. By gameweek three the promoted trio's schedule turns properly cruel: Coventry go to Man City, Hull host Aston Villa and Ipswich host Liverpool.
Here is the opening round in full (all times BST):
| Day | Kick-off | Fixture | 2025/26 finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 21 Aug | 20:00 | Arsenal v Coventry City | 1st, 85 pts v promoted |
| Sat 22 Aug | 12:30 | Hull City v Man Utd | promoted v 3rd, 71 pts |
| Sat 22 Aug | 15:00 | Nott'm Forest v Leeds | 16th, 44 pts v 14th, 47 pts |
| Sat 22 Aug | 15:00 | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | promoted v 7th, 54 pts |
| Sat 22 Aug | 15:00 | Everton v Crystal Palace | 13th, 49 pts v 15th, 45 pts |
| Sat 22 Aug | 17:30 | Brentford v Spurs | 9th, 53 pts v 17th, 41 pts |
| Sun 23 Aug | 14:00 | Man City v Bournemouth | 2nd, 78 pts v 6th, 57 pts |
| Sun 23 Aug | 14:00 | Brighton v Aston Villa | 8th, 53 pts v 4th, 65 pts |
| Sun 23 Aug | 16:30 | Newcastle v Liverpool | 12th, 49 pts v 5th, 60 pts |
| Mon 24 Aug | 20:00 | Fulham v Chelsea | 11th, 52 pts v 10th, 52 pts |
The fixtures page has the full opening three rounds, including the gameweek two meeting of Coventry and Hull on 29 August and the gameweek three slate on 5 September.
Premier League 2026/27 season preview: key dates
The calendar is unusual this year, and it starts before the football does. The season opens on Friday 21 August 2026 with Arsenal v Coventry City at 20:00 BST, a week later than the 2025/26 opener on 15 August and 89 days after last season ended on 24 May. It also starts 33 days after the World Cup final, which is why the campaign runs late at the other end: the final round is Sunday 30 May 2027, all ten matches kicking off simultaneously, a week before the Champions League final on 5 June.
Before the league, the Community Shield on Sunday 16 August sends Man City to Cardiff to meet Arsenal, five days before the season starts and a first look at the two title favourites. The summer transfer window runs from 15 June to 1 September 2026 at 23:00 BST, so it stays open through the first two gameweeks. The fixture list was released on 19 June, and the guide to how the fixture list is made explains how that calendar gets built.
FAQ
Who is the favourite to win the Premier League in 2026/27? Arsenal, on last season's numbers: 85 points, 27 goals conceded and 5 defeats, all the best in the division. Man City were the only side within seven points, and they scored more, 77 to 71, which is the strongest case for a closer race.
Which clubs were relegated in 2025/26? West Ham (18th, 39 points), Burnley (19th, 22) and Wolves (20th, 20). Their places go to Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town.
Which promoted club has the best opening fixture? Ipswich Town. They are the only one of the three to open at home to a non-top-four side, hosting Sunderland on 22 August before Man Utd away and Liverpool at home. Coventry start at Arsenal and Hull start at home to Man Utd.
When does the 2026/27 Premier League season start? Friday 21 August 2026, Arsenal v Coventry City at 20:00 BST, a week later than the previous season's opener. The final round is Sunday 30 May 2027 with all ten matches kicking off simultaneously.
Key takeaways
- Title favourite: Arsenal, who won 2025/26 on 85 points with the league's best defence (27 conceded); Man City on 78 are the only realistic challenger, and the gap is thinner than seven points looks.
- Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Aston Villa repeat last season's order, with Liverpool on 60 closest to breaking in and Bournemouth on 57 the likeliest surprise.
- Promoted: Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town all meet last season's top four inside the first three gameweeks, and Coventry v Hull on 29 August is the early six-pointer.
- Relegation: the three named candidates are Spurs (17th, 41 points), Crystal Palace (15th, 45) and Nott'm Forest (16th, 44), all inside six points of last season's drop.
- Opening fixtures: Man City and Man Utd have the friendliest starts, the promoted trio the hardest, and the gameweek two meeting of Coventry and Hull is the first all-promoted fixture of the Premier League 2026/27 season preview.