Arsenal is set to begin its Premier League title defense against promoted team Coventry on August 21, 2026. Additionally, Liverpool will face Newcastle in the opening week of the 2026/27 Premier League season, according to Vanguard Sports.

Al Jazeera previews the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League season, highlighting five key talking points. Arsenal and Bayern Munich are identified as leading challengers to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, while Jose Mourinho is pursuing glory with Real Madrid. The article also notes the debut of Italian side Como in the competition, marking a notable milestone for the club as Europe's premier club tournament begins a new campaign.

Arsenal produced a comeback victory to halt Chelsea's strong start to the season, according to The Citizen Sport. The result was described as a statement fightback by the London club. For Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, the defeat brought an end to a three-game winning run across all competitions. The report frames the match as a significant early-season setback for Chelsea, while underlining Arsenal's credentials after overturning the deficit to claim the win.

Three rounds into the Premier League season, several pre-season predictions are already being questioned, according to IOL. Arsenal have made a strong start, while Tottenham Hotspur are struggling to find form. Hull City have emerged as a surprise package, flying higher than anticipated, and Newcastle United are looking far stronger than expected. The early results have prompted reassessment of how the campaign may unfold for clubs tipped to perform very differently before a ball was kicked.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his side can perform at a higher level than last season after the club beat Chelsea 2-1. According to TimesLIVE Sport, Arteta expressed optimism that the team could surpass the success it achieved in the previous campaign. The victory over their London rivals appeared to reinforce his belief in the squad's potential heading further into the season.

According to The Citizen Sport, South Africa's rugby coach Rassie Erasmus has several options for the No 10 jersey this season, indicating that Pollard will face significant competition as he aims to secure his position in the team for 2026.