The 2026–27 season is Arsenal Football Club's 35th season in the Premier League, their 101st consecutive season in the top flight of English football, becoming the first team to spend 100+ seasons straight in the English top flight, and 110th season in the top flight overall. In addition to the domestic league, Arsenal are also participating in this season's editions of the FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield and UEFA Champions League, the latter of which is their 41st European campaign. The season covers the period from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Review Background Arsenal entered the season as the reigning league champions, having won the 2025–26 Premier League title, their first top-flight title since the 2003–04 season. Arsenal made significant use of set pieces throughout the season, particularly from corners, scoring 25 set-piece goals (excluding penalties), the highest total in the league, while also setting a new record for goals scored from corners in a single Premier League campaign, with 19. Arsenal's defence was once again a key factor in their success. They kept a league-high 19 clean sheets, while conceding the fewest shots (310), shots on target (90), big chances (50) and expected goals (28.5) in the 2025–26 Premier League season. Their average of 0.7 goals conceded per game was also the lowest among clubs in Europe's top five leagues. The 19 clean sheets were Arsenal's most in a Premier League season since 1998–99, while David Raya's 19 clean sheets matched the club record for a single Premier League season.
In Europe, Arsenal topped the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League league phase with a maximum 24 points from eight wins in eight matches, conceding only three goals. After defeating Sporting, Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid in the knockout stages, Arsenal faced Paris Saint-Germain in the final, their first European final since the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League final and their first Champions League final since the 2005–06 season. Arsenal lost the final 4–3 on penalties after the match ended 1–1 following extra time, despite completing their European campaign unbeaten.
For the first time since the 2016–17 season, Arsenal are without Reiss Nelson after the club terminated his contract by mutual consent. As a result of his departure, this is the first season that the squad does not contain a player that played under Arsène Wenger, since before the debut of former captain Tony Adams.
First team transfers (summer transfer window) The Premier League's summer 2026 transfer window officially opened on 15 June and is scheduled to close on 1 September at 23:00 BST. The window followed the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was held from 11 June to 19 July 2026, meaning clubs could complete transfers both before and after the tournament.
On 1 July 2026, Arsenal confirmed the permanent signing of defender Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen, having activated the option to sign him permanently following his loan spell at the club. Hincapié made 39 appearances in all competitions during the 2025–26 season and helped Arsenal win the Premier League title. On the other hand, Karl Hein and Jakub Kiwior completed permanent transfers to Werder Bremen and Porto, respectively, after their respective loan clubs exercised options to sign them permanently.
On 9 July, free agent goalkeeper Illan Meslier, formerly of Leeds United, signed a two-year deal with Arsenal, with the option to extend for a further year.
On 15 July 2026, Leandro Trossard left Arsenal to join Turkish Süper Lig side Beşiktaş for a reported £17.1 million. Trossard joined Arsenal from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023 and made 174 appearances for the club, scoring 36 goals. During his time at Arsenal, he contributed to a number of important moments, including scoring the equalising goal against Manchester City in the 2023 Community Shield final and scoring a crucial late winner against West Ham United during Arsenal's 2025–26 Premier League title-winning campaign. He helped Arsenal win the Premier League title in his final season at the club.
On 22 July 2026, Arsenal announced the signing of Greek forward Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge on a long-term contract for £34 million. Tzolis joined Arsenal after an impressive 2025–26 season with Club Brugge, during which he helped the club win the Belgian Pro League title and was named the league's Player of the Season. He scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists in all competitions during the campaign.
On 5 August 2026, Arsenal confirmed the departure of Christian Nørgaard to Everton on a permanent deal.
On 8 August 2026, Arsenal signed Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United for a reported £75 million.
On 21 August 2026, Arsenal announced the signing of Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa for a reported £55 million, with £51 million paid as a fixed fee and a further £4 million in potential add-ons.
On 1 September 2026, Gabriel Jesus left the club to join Barcelona, while midfielder Fábio Vieira joined Hamburger SV on a permanent deal following his loan spell. Two days later, it was confirmed that Gabriel Martinelli joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal for £60 million, becoming Arsenal's record departure.
August
On 16 August 2026, Arsenal began the season with a 3–0 victory over the FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield final, winning the competition for the 18th time in the club's history. Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring in the 23rd second of the match, making it the fastest goal in Community Shield final history, after being played through on goal by Myles Lewis-Skelly. A header from Kai Havertz doubled Arsenal's lead, with new signing Christos Tzolis providing the assist following a curled cross from captain Martin Ødegaard. Tzolis provided another assist for Arsenal's third goal, finding Ødegaard inside the box, with the Norwegian sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way with a feint before calmly finishing into the empty net. With his two assists, Tzolis became the first player to provide two or more assists in a Community Shield match since David Beckham did so for Manchester United against Newcastle United in 1996.
On 21 August, Arsenal began their title defence with a 3–0 home victory over newly promoted Coventry City in the Premier League. Kai Havertz opened the scoring with a composed finish following an assist from Riccardo Calafiori, before Bukayo Saka doubled the lead eight minutes later in the 23rd minute, calmly finishing in the empty net. Martin Ødegaard added a third in the 49th minute, with his shot taking a deflection on its way into the net, securing Arsenal's first three points of the season. New signing Christos Tzolis impressed once again, receiving praise from both supporters and the media. Ten days later, on 31 August, Arsenal secured a 1–0 away victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League. Bukayo Saka scored the only goal, sliding the ball into the net from a Riccardo Calafiori cut-back. Ezri Konsa also made his Arsenal debut as a substitute, becoming the first player since Petr Čech against Chelsea in 2015 to make his debut for a club against the team he had joined from.
September On 6 September, Arsenal defeated London rivals Chelsea 2–1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League. Morgan Rodgers gave Chelsea the lead in the 2nd minute of the game, scoring the first goal Mikel Arteta's side has conceded this season. Kai Havertz equalised in the 25th minute, finding himself in a good position just outside of the box, before beating ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at the near post. In the 50th minute, Christos Tzolis passed the ball forward, with Kai Havertz's clever dummy letting it go to captain Martin Ødegaard who slotted it in to give Arsenal the lead.
On 9 September, Arsenal began their European campaign with a 0–1 win at Diego Armando Maradona stadium against Napoli. Despite having 26 shots and 4.05 expected goals, Arsenal's only goal came from Martin Ødegaard's strike from the edge of the box, with Norwegian scoring his 4th goal in 5 matches.3 days after that, Arsenal traveled to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland. After a goalless first half, Sunderland were given a controversial penalty after Ezri Konsa pulled Daniel Ballard to the ground. Despite that, David Raya saved the penalty taken by Enzo Le Fée and two minutes later, Bruno Guimarães scored his first goal for Arsenal. Then in stoppage time, Reinildo Mandava fouled Bukayo Saka and was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Saka converted the penalty that followed, and Arsenal won 2-0. Then in September 15th, Arsenal heavily rotated the squad for the EFL cup tie away at Portman Road to face Ipswich Town and prevailed 4-2 with a brace from Max Dowman and goals from Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino. Four days later, Arsenal faced Brighton away and lost 3-0 after goals from Pascal Groß, Charalampos Kostoulas, and Chema Andrés. This was the heaviest defeat for Arsenal since May 14, 2023 when they lost 3-0 at the Emirates, also to Brighton. With a Manchester City 5-3 win over Sunderland, City took first place with 15 points and Arsenal with 12 heading into the international break.
Over the international break, 17 players were called up for their national senior squad in September, Konsa, Saka, Eze, and Lewis-Skelly (England), Raya, Merino, and Zubimendi (Spain), Timber (Netherlands), Havertz (Germany), Tzolis (Greece), Odegaard (Norway), Calafiori (Italy), Gyokeres (Sweden), and Gabriel and Guimaraes (Brazil).
First team First team coaching staff Note: Age as of .
Position Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Last club/team Manager Mikel Arteta 26 Mar 1982 (age ) 20 Dec 2019 Manchester City (as assistant coach) Assistant coaches Albert Stuivenberg 5 Aug 1970 (age ) 24 Dec 2019 Wales (as assistant manager) Miguel Molina 3 Jan 1993 (age ) 28 Aug 2020 Atlético Madrid First team coach Gabriel Heinze 19 Apr 1978 (age ) 8 Jul 2025 Newell's Old Boys (as head coach) Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover 28 Oct 1981 (age ) 5 Jul 2021 Manchester City (as set-piece coach) Iñaki Caña 19 Sep 1975 (age ) 24 Dec 2019 Brentford
First team squad
Notes: Squad numbers last updated on 5 August 2026. Age and contract details as of . Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may change their FIFA nationalities after the 2025–26 season, and may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Player* – Player who joined Arsenal permanently or on loan during the season. Player† – Player who departed Arsenal permanently or on loan during the season. Player (HG) – Player who fulfils the Premier League's "Home Grown Player" criteria. Player (CT) – Player who fulfils UEFA's "club-trained player" criteria. Player (AT) – Player who fulfils UEFA's "association-trained player" criteria.