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Arsenal’s opening-day record: The numbers behind their season starts in Premier League
19th August, 2026 04:35 PM
The start of a new league campaign always brings a sense of anticipation, and Arsenal’s long history provides plenty of interesting statistics surrounding their first fixtures.
Ahead of the 2026/27 season, the Gunners can look back on an impressive record in their opening league matches.
Arsenal are preparing for their 123rd league campaign. Across their previous 122 opening fixtures, they have registered 58 victories, 23 draws and 41 defeats. Interestingly, they have never gone on to win the league in a season when they lost their opening match.
Their recent Premier League record on the first weekend has been particularly strong. Arsenal have won their opening fixture in each of the past four seasons, defeating Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Manchester United. A fifth consecutive opening-day victory would equal their best-ever run, achieved between the 2001/02 and 2005/06 campaigns.
The victory over Manchester United last season, secured by Riccardo Calafiori, also moved Arsenal to within one goal of reaching 200 goals in their opening league fixtures. They have conceded 169 goals across those matches.
Arsenal have also enjoyed a perfect record in their three previous Premier League opening games as defending champions. Their most recent such victory came against Everton in 2004/05. The other two wins were against newly promoted Nottingham Forest in 1998/99 and Birmingham City in 2002/03.
Historically, Arsenal have more frequently begun their league campaigns at home. Of their previous 122 opening matches, 69 have been played at home and 53 away.
The 2026/27 campaign will mark the 35th season of the Premier League, with Arsenal having participated in every edition. In their 34 previous opening-weekend fixtures, they have collected 20 wins and six draws.
Their average points haul from those matches stands at 1.94 per game, based on the modern three-points-for-a-win system. That is slightly above their overall historical average of 1.89 points per game.
Arsenal have not shared the points on the opening day for 14 years. Their last draw came in a goalless encounter with Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have scored 59 goals in their Premier League opening fixtures. Their biggest opening-day victory came in August 2009, when they produced a memorable 6-1 triumph away to Everton.
Everton, Liverpool and Newcastle United are Arsenal’s most frequently encountered opening-day opponents, with each club having faced the Gunners eight times in the first league game of the season.
When it comes to individual scoring records, Ted Drake tops Arsenal’s all-time opening-day scoring chart with six goals. Cliff Bastin, David Jack and Dennis Bergkamp have each scored five.
Arsenal’s leading opening-day scorers
Ted Drake (6), Cliff Bastin (5), David Jack (5), Dennis Bergkamp (5), Joe Baker (4), Thierry Henry (4).
Drake’s six goals include a hat-trick against Everton at Goodison Park in 1937. Only one other Arsenal player has managed three goals in an opening-day fixture: Alan Smith, who achieved the feat during a 5-1 victory over Wimbledon in 1988.
During the Premier League era, only Bergkamp and Cesc Fabregas have scored twice for Arsenal in an opening-day match. Bergkamp’s double came during the 4-0 win against Middlesbrough in 2001, while Fabregas struck twice in the 6-1 victory at Everton eight years later.
Arsenal’s first-ever Premier League goal was scored by Steve Bould in August 1992. The defender headed in Nigel Winterburn’s free-kick during a 4-2 defeat against Norwich City. Kevin Campbell later added Arsenal’s second goal before Norwich completed their comeback.
Alexandre Lacazette also holds a unique Premier League record involving opening-day goals. Both of his goals for Arsenal on the first day of a season were the first goals scored anywhere in that particular Premier League campaign.
With another season about to begin, Arsenal’s historical numbers underline just how consistently competitive they have been when starting a new league campaign. The Gunners will start their title defense against Coventry City on Friday, August 21, 2026.
