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Defending champ Arsenal are the opening act of the season as they host newly promoted side Coventry City on FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 2pm CST.
We kick off our Season Previews with the Gunners.
Defending champs are favorites to repeat.
2025/26 Finish - 1st Place
Qualified for Champions League
78 - Projected 2026/27 Points
EPL Champs. The Gunners finally got over the hump last season winning the EPL and finishing runners up in the Champions League.
A “Big 6” club, Arsenal expects to be in contention for cups year in and year out and that has continued to be the case under gaffer Mikel Arteta with back-to-back second place finishes in the PL. Expectations are high heading into the season with Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles the goal.
2025/26 was built on defense and set pieces. They will need to evolve if they hope to go back-to-back. The team is balanced but they really could use a striker. Rice (England) & Odergaard (Norway) will be back to anchor the midfield after both had a nice World Cup run. In fact, it felt like all of Arsenal had a good World Cup run with 15 players spread across 9 tams. 8 players made the Semi-Finals.
Talent all over, proven manager, ability to add missing pieces. Would be surprised if this club isn’t in contention for the EPL and Champions League title again this year. They will need some more depth to handle all the competitions, but getting the 2nd place monkey off their backs may free them up for a great season.
The Club
Located in North London (Islington)
Emirates Stadium, 60,000 capacity
Rough estimates
$930M Annual Revenue (10th worldwide, 6th PL)
$470M Player Payroll
Munitions workers at Royal Arsenal founded the club as Dial Square
History on the Pitch
14 league titles, last in 2026
A record 14 FA Cups
Longest top league run (1913)
Arsene Wenger, manager 1996-2018 finished top 4 all but 17 & 18
Nicknamed the “Invincibles” in 2002 for not losing a match
Sponsorship
Kit: Adidas
Shirt: Fly Emirates
Sleeve: Deel
Home
Away
Ownership - Stan Kroenke
Stan can be polarizing. The Rams relocation to LA? Bad TV deals in Denver? When he fired 55 employees after an FA Cup win and Arsenal fans went crazy? Often there has been animosity towards Americans in English Soccer Clubs. Much due to the lack of connection and commitment to the club or their fans. Too much business, not enough passion. That being said, it’s been quite a run for Stan, winning the NBA, NFL, & NHL titles with the Nuggets (23), Rams (22) and Avalanche (20). AND Arsenal’s 2nd (23 & 24).
Biggest Rival - North London Derby
Tottenham Hotspur – 4 miles apart
Arsenal W84 L61 D52
Only 8 players have ever played for both teams in the Derby
Gunners finished ahead of Spurs 21 straight seasons ending in 2017
Since 2017, Spurs finished ahead of Gunners until the 23 season
This preseason the clubs played in South Korea in a friendly, the first time that has happened.
The Culture
3rd highest attendance in EPL with a large international fanbase, estimated as the 3rd largest in the world at 125M fans. Like the Green Bay Packers, Arsenal has a “fanshare” program where fans buy shares of the club that allows them to attend shareholder meetings. Arsenal fans have been characterized for their dissatisfaction they seem to have towards the club, even during times of success.
St Totteringham’s Day - The day when Arsenal have gathered enough points to be mathematically assured to finish ahead of Tottenham in the table. Arsenal had a St T Day for 22 straight years, until it was not celebrated from 2017 to 2022.
Word Association
North London, Red, Gunners, Invincibles, Thierry Henry, Arsène Wenger, Emirates, Beautiful football, Trophies, Modern success, Passionate but polished fans, Kroenke, Rams, Nuggets.
Supporters You May Recognize
Queen of England
Benedict Cumberbatch
Idris Alba
Dua Lupa
Mick Jagger
Piers Morgan
Good link for where to watch game day matches in the USA - US Gooner Bars
Song
Game Day Pub Guide
The Gunners Pub
Fan Sites
Official Twitter
@Arsenal
High Follows on Twitter
@AFTVMedia (810k)
@T0tallyArsenal (57k)
@TheArsenal1913 (25k)
The Supporters Love Arteta
The Team
The Gaffer
Mikel Arteta (Spain), 44yo
Since 2019, former Arsenal player who assisted at Man City in 2016
Mikel Arteta
Odds
To Win +150 (Favorites)
To Be Top 4 -847
Relegated +100,000
Roster Notes
Full Roster click link
No Americans on the team.
Bukayo Saka
Declan Rice
William Saliba
Martin Zubimendi
Gabriel
Jurrien Timber
Eberechi Eze
Martin Odegaard
Viktor Gyokeres
Kai Havertz
Riccardo Calafiori
Noni Madueke
Gabriel Martinelli
Piero Hincapie
Goalkeeper
David Raya - Top 10 in PL.
Emirates Stadium - North London
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