Arsenal and Manchester United have been predicted to endure miserable starts to the new Premier League season after the release of the 2025/26 fixtures.
Two of England’s traditional powerhouses will face each other on the opening weekend with the Gunners opening their campaign at Old Trafford for the first time since 1989.
It doesn’t get much easier from there for Arsenal who are scheduled to meet Liverpool, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle before the end of September.
Arteta’s side has finished in second place three years in a row and they will have to go some to go one better next time around with Gabriel Agbonlahor fearing they will be left with a mountain to climb after their first six matches.
‘You look at Arsenal’s first six and it’s Manchester United away, ‘ the former Aston Villa striker told talkSPORT.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
‘You know what it’s like first game of the season, you’d expect United to be lively so I’ve gone with a draw.
‘Leeds at home I’ve gone with a win for Arsenal, Liverpool away is a loss, Forsest at home I’ve gone for a win, a narrow win for Arsenal. Manchester City at home and Newcastle away they don’t do very well there Arsenal.
‘So that’s seven points out of a possible 18 for Arsenal, obviously I’m just guessing here but that wouldn’t be a great start for them.’
The bookies are also skeptical over Arsenal’s chances of making a flying start with William Hill predicting they have only a 1.5% chance of emerging from the first six games with a maximum haul.
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: ‘Arsenal fans will be less than impressed after being handed a tough run of opening games for the 2025/26 Premier League season.
‘The Gunners’ first game will be at Old Trafford, followed by a return to North London to host Leeds.
‘The next four games will be a good indicator of Arsenal’s calibre in big clashes; they’ll face Liverpool away, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at home, and Newcastle at St James’ Park.
‘For that reason, we go 66/1 that the Gunners deliver 18 points from their opening six games.
Arsenal Premier League fixtures in full
AUGUST
Sun 17 Manchester United (A)
Sat 23 Leeds United (H)
Sat 30 Liverpool (A)
SEPTEMBER
Sat 13 Nottingham Forest (H)
Sat 20 Manchester City (H)
Sat 27 Newcastle United (A)
OCTOBER
Sat 4 West Ham United (H)
Sat 18 Fulham (A)
Sat 25 Crystal Palace (H)
NOVEMBER
Sat 1 Burnley (A)
Sat 8 Sunderland (A)
Sat 22 Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Sat 29 Chelsea (A)
DECEMBER
Wed 3 Brentford (H)
Sat 6 Aston Villa (A)
Sat 13 Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
Sat 20 Everton (A)
Sat 27 Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
Tue 30 Aston Villa (H)
JANUARY
Sat 3 Bournemouth (A)
Wed 7 Liverpool (H)
Sat 17 Nottingham Forest (A)
Sat 24 Manchester United (H)
Sat 31 Leeds United (A)
FEBRUARY
Feb 7 Sunderland (H)
Wed 11 Brentford (A)
Sat 21 Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Sat 28 Chelsea (H)
MARCH
Wed 4 Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
Sat 14 Everton (H)
Sat 21 Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
APRIL
Sat 11 Bournemouth (H)
Sat 18 Manchester City (A)
Sat 25 Newcastle United (H)
MAY
Sat 2 Fulham (H)
Sat 9 West Ham United (A)
Sun 17 Burnley (H)
Sun 24 Crystal Palace (A)
‘Our favourites to go six from six are Premier League champions Liverpool at 12/1, closely followed by Manchester City at 16/1. Chelsea are 28/1 to deliver six wins from their opening fixtures, while Thomas Frank’s Tottenham are outsiders at 66/1.
‘After a tough season for Man Utd, we have them 125/1 to start the season firing with six wins out of six.’
The fixtures computer has been equally unkind to Ruben Amorim who could have done with a break after a difficult start to his United reign.
‘I’m looking at the fixtures and I’m like woah, some of the starts,’ Agbonlahor added.
‘Manchester United, if we start on that Arsenal at home you’d say take a draw, Fulham away away loss, Manchester City away loss and Chelsea at home draw.
‘So I’ve counted and that’s five points from a possible 15 in their first five games.’
