Arsenal 2026 Preseason and Early Season Schedule: Key Dates and Details

After clinching a remarkable Premier League title last season, Arsenal are preparing for the 2026/27 campaign with fresh goals. The squad is regrouping after many players represented their countries at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making this preseason a period of recovery and reintegration.

The previous season was intense for the Gunners, balancing Premier League success and a Champions League final run, which left players physically drained and dealing with injuries. Some of those injuries carried over into the World Cup, affecting availability as preseason begins.

Here’s a look at Arsenal's scheduled preseason friendlies and the timeline for their World Cup stars' returns.

Preseason Friendly Matchups and Dates

• Girona (Win 4-1): Saturday, August 1 at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, Girona, Spain – 2 p.m. ET
• Real Betis: Wednesday, August 5 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland – 2:30 p.m. ET
• Borussia Dortmund: Sunday, August 9 at Emirates Stadium, London, England – 9 a.m. ET
• Como: Wednesday, August 12 at Emirates Stadium, London, England – 2:30 p.m. ET

Where the Games Are Played

The Gunners kick off preseason on August 1 with a trip to face Girona, a club recently relegated from La Liga but with recent European pedigree. Following that, they visit Real Betis in Dublin. Then Arsenal return home to host German side Borussia Dortmund and Italian team Como, who are also gearing up for their Premier League visits.

Return of Arsenal’s World Cup Players

Several key Arsenal players took part in the World Cup and will gradually rejoin the squad through preseason. Injuries sustained or worsened during the tournament mean some will miss time while resting.

• William Saliba: Sidelined for a lengthy period due to a back injury aggravated during France’s run. He played despite pain but was substituted early in the semifinal loss to Spain.
• Declan Rice: Managed a nerve-related hamstring issue throughout the World Cup. Expected to have a rest period before returning.
• Bukayo Saka: Showed signs of fatigue during England's matches and may need extra recovery, though he denies any specific injuries.

All Arsenal players who reached at least the Round of 32 will observe the mandatory 21-day rest after their exit. Players like Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, and Piero Hincapie exited earlier and could return by late July. Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli made it to the Round of 16 with Brazil and might be back by early August.

Martin Odegaard helped Norway reach the quarterfinals, so his return might come mid-August, potentially ready for the season start but possibly requiring a ramp-up period. Those reaching the semifinals—Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke with England—might only be available by late August.

Spain’s champions David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino could take the longest break, perhaps not returning until late August or early September, which may delay their participation in early league matches.

Starting the 2026/27 Premier League Season

Arsenal begin their defense of the Premier League title with the FA Community Shield on Sunday, August 16, facing Manchester City, the FA Cup winners from last season.

Their first league match is set for Friday, August 21 at home against newly promoted Coventry City. They then travel to Aston Villa on August 31, followed by a home fixture against London rivals Chelsea on September 6.

First Five Premier League Fixtures

• Fri, Aug. 21: Coventry City (Home)
• Mon, Aug. 31: Aston Villa (Away)
• Sun, Sep. 6: Chelsea (Home)
• Sat, Sep. 12: Sunderland (Away)
• Sat, Sep. 19: Brighton (Away)