Arsenal were the defending champions when the 2026–27 Premier League opened.
Arsenal began the season as the holders after winning their first Premier League title in 22 years during the preceding campaign. That status gave their opening fixture extra significance: they started the new season at home against Coventry City on 21 August 2026.
The club’s manager was Mikel Arteta, and Martin Ødegaard was listed as captain. Arsenal’s home ground was Emirates Stadium, where they defeated Coventry 3–0 in the opening match.
A frequent source of confusion is treating the opening-weekend table leader as the previous champion. Those are different facts: the defending champion is the club that won the preceding season, while the first-weekend leader is determined by the new season’s results and goal difference.