Arsenal entered the 2026–27 Premier League as defending champions.
Arsenal’s status as holders shaped the opening fixture because they began the new campaign at home against newly promoted Coventry City. Their first match was scheduled for Friday 21 August 2026, making the champions the first team in the league to play that season.
The defending-champion label refers to the club that won the previous Premier League season, not the team that finished first after the opening round. Arsenal therefore carried the title into 2026–27 even though the new table had only just begun.
Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea were among the other major clubs in the division, but they were not the reigning champions entering this campaign. Arsenal’s opening-round victory also gave the holders an immediate three-point start in their title defence.