The new league season is on the horizon, and with the fixture list released, fans have been anxiously marking up the dates for important matches. For fans of Arsenal, they welcome the new season with the usual mix of cautious optimism and foreboding.
For the modern day underachievers of the Premier League, 2015-16 was yet another case study in how a promising start petered out and ended in nothing. After a bright start to the season, Arsenal yet again managed to lose their way over the festive period and faltered in their pursuit of a maiden English crown since 2003-04 yet again.
A bad run from Tottenham at the far end of the seasons saw Arsenal leapfrog them into second on the table, as a result of which the Gunners’ fans celebrated St. Totteringham’s day again. But that will come as little solace for supporters of the team that has promised so much and delivered so little over the years.
So who will Arsenal, bolstered by newly signed Granit Xhaka of Switzerland, face, and when?
The Premier League certainly did not do Arsenal any favours when they drew the Gunners to play Liverpool at the Emirates on the first day of the season. The August 13th curtain raiser at the Emirates will be followed by a difficult trip to the King Power stadium for an away fixture against the defending champions Leicester City.
September will see Arsenal face off against London rivals Chelsea, who will bear a new look with Antonio Conte at the helm. An easy October will be followed by a testing November where the Gunners will face off at home against Tottenham followed by an away trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
December will mark the start of the festive season, a period during which Arsenal have traditionally faltered. This year, the matches to decide their fate may well be consecutive away fixtures against Everton and Manchester City, separated by a gap of only 2 days.
January will be comparatively easier with away fixtures at Bournemouth and Swansea and home fixtures against Watford and Burnley. February will see Arsenal travel to Chelsea and Southampton, tricky fixtures to say the least, which will be followed by Liverpool away and Leicester at home.
March also hosts a number of crucial fixtures for Arsenal, with Manchester City and West Ham at home and Tottenham away. Arsenal conclude their season with 2 crucial fixtures at home, against Manchester United and Everton.
| Date | Time in BST | Opposition | Home/Away |
| 13 Aug 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Liverpool | Home |
| 20-Aug-16 | 3:00 P.M. | Leicester City | Away |
| 27-Aug-16 | 3:00 P.M. | Watford City | Away |
| 10 Sep 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Southampton | Home |
| 17-Sep-16 | 3:00 P.M. | Hull City | Away |
| 24 Sep 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Chelsea | Home |
| 01-Oct-16 | 3:00 P.M. | Burnley | Away |
| 15-Oct-16 | 3:00 P.M. | Swansea City | Home |
| 22 Oct 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Middlesborugh | Home |
| 29-Oct-16 | 3:00 P.M. | Sunderland | Away |
| 05 Nov 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Tottenham | Home |
| 19-Nov-16 | 3:00 P.M. | Manchester United | Away |
| 26 Nov 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | AFC Bournemouth | Home |
| 03-Dec-16 | 3:00 P.M. | West Ham United | Away |
| 10 Dec 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Stoke City | Home |
| 14-Dec-16 | 7:45 P.M. | Everton | Away |
| 17-Dec-16 | 3:00 P.M. | Manchester City | Away |
| 26 Dec 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | West Bromwich Albion | Home |
| 31 Dec 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Crystal Palace | Home |
| 02-Jan-17 | 3:00 P.M. | AFC Bournemouth | Away |
| 14-Jan-17 | 3:00 P.M. | Swansea City | Away |
| 21 Jan 2017 | 3:00 P.M. | Burnley | Home |
| 31-Jan-17 | 7:45 P.M. | Watford City | Home |
| 04-Feb-17 | 3:00 P.M. | Chelsea | Away |
| 11 Feb 2017 | 3:00 P.M. | Hull City | Home |
| 25-Feb-17 | 3:00 P.M. | Southampton | Away |
| 04-Mar-17 | 3:00 P.M. | Liverpool | Away |
| 11 Mar 2017 | 3:00 P.M. | Leicester City | Home |
| 18-Mar-17 | 3:00 P.M. | West Bromwich Albion | Away |
| 01 Apr 2017 | 3:00 P.M. | Manchester City | Home |
| 04-Apr-17 | 7:45 P.M. | West Ham United | Home |
| 08-Apr-17 | 3:00 P.M. | Crystal Palace | Away |
| 15-Apr-17 | 3:00 P.M. | Middlesborugh | Away |
| 22 Apr 2017 | 3:00 P.M. | Sunderland | Home |
| 29-Apr-17 | 3:00 P.M. | Tottenham | Away |
| 06 May 2017 | 3:00 P.M. | Manchester United | Home |
| 13-May-17 | 3:00 P.M. | Stoke City | Away |
| 21 May 2017 | 3:00 P.M. | Everton | Home |
(Schedule subject to change)
If you want to get your calendar up to date with fixtures of your favourite team, here’s the link!
