Arsenal welcome promoted Coventry City to the Emirates Stadium at 21:00 for the opening game of the new Premier League season and go into the fixture as clear favourites. Mikel Arteta’s side ended a 22-year wait for the English title last season, finishing on 85 points, seven clear of Manchester City. The Gunners underlined their ambitions again last Sunday with an impressive 3-0 victory over City in the Community Shield.
Arteta has been handed further high-profile reinforcements this summer. The standout arrival is Bruno Guimarães, who joined the Gunners from Newcastle United. However, the Brazilian is a doubt for the Coventry game after suffering a leg injury in the Community Shield. Arsenal have also added Christos Tzolis, while England international Ezri Konsa completed a move from Aston Villa shortly before the start of the season.
Coventry, meanwhile, are back in the English top flight for the first time in 25 years. Frank Lampard guided the Sky Blues to the Championship title and was subsequently named Manager of the Year by the League Managers Association. The promoted side have also invested heavily in their squad, most recently signing Premier League-experienced striker Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest. Coventry can travel to the Emirates with little pressure, although history offers limited encouragement: on the previous seven occasions that the reigning champions have opened a Premier League season at home to a promoted side, the title holders have won every time.
Premier League spending reaches another level
This summer’s transfer activity has once again underlined the Premier League’s extraordinary financial power. By the eve of the new season, the 20 clubs had already spent around €2.7 billion. Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for approximately €138 million, while Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest around €135 million for England international Elliot Anderson.
Tottenham Hotspur FC have also invested heavily, with Sandro Tonali among their major arrivals from Newcastle. A deal for Savinho is also close to completion, with the winger expected to join from Manchester City for a package worth up to €99.1 million. The transfer would make the Brazilian the most expensive sale in City’s history.
The league is undergoing significant change on the touchline as well. Nine clubs begin the season with a different manager. Enzo Maresca succeeded Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Andoni Iraola took charge of Liverpool, Xabi Alonso joined Chelsea and Roberto De Zerbi moved to Tottenham. Newcastle appointed former Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle following Eddie Howe’s resignation.
Isak returns to Newcastle with Liverpool
Perhaps the most emotionally charged fixture of the opening round takes place at St James’ Park on Sunday at 17:30. Newcastle host Liverpool, with Alexander Isak set to be one of the main talking points. The Sweden international left Newcastle for the Reds a year ago following a turbulent transfer saga, moving for a British-record fee of £125 million. He is now set to return to his former club for a competitive match for the first time as a Liverpool player.
His first season at Anfield proved disappointing, with just three Premier League goals and several injury setbacks. Isak is now fit again and is expected to play a central role under Iraola. Liverpool are also going through a period of transition after finishing fifth last season and must adjust to life without Mohamed Salah.
Newcastle have experienced an equally eventful summer. Isak, Tonali and Bruno Guimarães have all left the club, while Howe stepped down after almost five years in charge. Jaissle therefore inherits a significantly reshaped squad and faces one of the league’s biggest names in his very first Premier League match.
The rest of the opening weekend at a glance
Manchester United begin their season away to promoted Hull City on Saturday. Michael Carrick guided United to third place last season and has since been backed with reinforcements including Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. Elsewhere, Everton host Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town face Sunderland and Nottingham Forest take on Leeds United. Brentford then meet a revamped Tottenham side in the evening fixture.
On Sunday, Brighton face Aston Villa after their Conference League trip to Tromsø, while Manchester City will look to put their Community Shield defeat behind them when they take on Bournemouth. The opening round concludes on Monday with a London derby between Fulham and Chelsea. Xabi Alonso will make his Premier League debut as Blues manager and could hand record signing Morgan Rogers his first league appearance for the club.
There is also a change to the regulations this season, with VAR given slightly broader powers. The video assistant can now intervene when a player is sent off as a result of a clearly incorrect second yellow card. The change applies only when a second booking has actually been shown and has led to a dismissal; VAR still cannot intervene when a potential second yellow has simply been missed. The high threshold for intervention remains in place. The Premier League has, however, decided not to adopt the new option allowing VAR to correct clearly incorrect corner decisions.
