Arsenal Football Club enters the final stretch of the 2025/26 season with high stakes across multiple competitions. For supporters tracking every movement of the Gunners, understanding the nuances of the match fixture list is essential, especially as the team navigates the complexities of the Premier League title race alongside a deep run in the UEFA Champions League.

The current focus remains on the upcoming fixtures in late April and May 2026, which will define the success of this campaign. Below is the immediate schedule as the season reaches its climax, followed by a comprehensive breakdown of the entire 2025/26 season.

Upcoming Arsenal Fixtures: April and May 2026

The following table highlights the critical matches remaining in the current calendar. These fixtures are subject to high-intensity scrutiny as they include the UEFA Champions League semi-final stages and the final four Premier League matchdays.

Date Competition Opponent Venue
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 UEFA Champions League (SF 1st Leg) Atlético Madrid Civitas Metropolitano (Away)
Saturday, May 2, 2026 Premier League Fulham Emirates Stadium (Home)
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 UEFA Champions League (SF 2nd Leg) Atlético Madrid Emirates Stadium (Home)
Sunday, May 10, 2026 Premier League West Ham United London Stadium (Away)
Sunday, May 17, 2026 Premier League Burnley Emirates Stadium (Home)
Sunday, May 24, 2026 Premier League Crystal Palace Selhurst Park (Away)

As the 2025/26 season concludes, the density of these fixtures requires significant squad rotation and tactical flexibility. The back-to-back encounters with Atlético Madrid are interspersed with a London derby against Fulham, making this a pivotal week for the club's trophy aspirations.

Overview of the 2025/26 Arsenal Fixture Calendar

The 2025/26 Premier League season for Arsenal was released with a high-profile opener that set the tone for a challenging year. Spanning 33 weekends and five midweek rounds, the schedule was designed to ensure no two fixtures are played within 60 hours of each other, though the inclusion of European nights often pushes this rule to its limit.

Arsenal's campaign is characterized by several distinct phases: a high-octane start in August, a congested festive period in December featuring six league matches, and a spring period dominated by knockout football.

Detailed Month-by-Month Match Schedule

August 2025: A Difficult Beginning

The season kicked off with one of the most demanding away trips in English football. Facing Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening weekend immediately tested the mettle of the squad.

  • Sun, Aug 17: Manchester United (Away) - 4:30 PM UK
  • Sat, Aug 23: Leeds United (Home) - 3:00 PM UK
  • Sat, Aug 30: Liverpool (Away) - 3:00 PM UK

Starting the season with two "Big Six" away games in the first three weeks is a statistical rarity. The trip to Anfield at the end of August followed the first home game at the Emirates against a newly promoted Leeds United side. This opening month demanded that the Gunners be at peak physical condition from the first whistle of the season.

September 2025: The European Journey Begins

September marked the return of the UEFA Champions League group phase and the entry into the Carabao Cup.

  • Sat, Sep 13: Nottingham Forest (Home)
  • Sep 16-18: Champions League Matchday 1
  • Sat, Sep 20: Manchester City (Home)
  • W/C Sep 22: League Cup Round 3
  • Sat, Sep 27: Newcastle United (Away)
  • Sep 30 - Oct 1: Champions League Matchday 2

The highlight of this month was the visit of Manchester City to the Emirates. Placed between two Champions League fixtures, this match was a tactical chess match. Playing Newcastle away just a week later added to the travel burden, as St. James' Park remains one of the more difficult environments for visiting teams.

October 2025: Staying Close to Home

October provided a slight reprieve in terms of travel, with the majority of fixtures taking place within London or at the Emirates Stadium.

  • Sat, Oct 4: West Ham United (Home)
  • Oct 6-14: International Break
  • Sat, Oct 18: Fulham (Away)
  • Oct 21-22: Champions League Matchday 3
  • Sat, Oct 25: Crystal Palace (Home)
  • W/C Oct 27: League Cup Round 4

Derbies against West Ham, Fulham, and Crystal Palace dominated the domestic schedule. These local matches are often deceptive in their difficulty, as the lack of travel is offset by the intensity of local rivalry.

November 2025: The First North London Derby

November was headlined by the first meeting of the season with Tottenham Hotspur, a fixture that always carries immense weight in the North London hierarchy.

  • Sat, Nov 1: Burnley (Away)
  • Nov 4-5: Champions League Matchday 4
  • Sat, Nov 8: Sunderland (Away)
  • Nov 10-18: International Break
  • Sat, Nov 22: Tottenham Hotspur (Home)
  • Nov 25-26: Champions League Matchday 5
  • Sat, Nov 29: Chelsea (Away)

The North London Derby at the Emirates was followed immediately by a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. This "back-to-back" derby scenario is a grueling test of emotional and physical endurance for the players and coaching staff alike.

December 2025: The Winter Congestion

December is traditionally the busiest month in the English football calendar, and 2025 was no exception. Arsenal played eight matches across all competitions.

  • Wed, Dec 3: Brentford (Home)
  • Sat, Dec 6: Aston Villa (Away)
  • Dec 9-10: Champions League Matchday 6
  • Sat, Dec 13: Wolverhampton Wanderers (Home)
  • W/C Dec 15: League Cup Round 5
  • Sat, Dec 20: Everton (Away)
  • Sat, Dec 27: Brighton & Hove Albion (Home)
  • Tue, Dec 30: Aston Villa (Home)

Notably, there was no boxing day fixture, with the festive games pushed to the 27th and 30th to allow for marginally better recovery times. Facing Aston Villa twice in one month (away and home) presented a unique tactical challenge, requiring the analysis team to adapt to the same opponent in a short window.

January 2026: Cup Ambitions and Liverpool Return

The New Year began with a focus on domestic cups, including the third round of the FA Cup.

  • Sat, Jan 3: AFC Bournemouth (Away)
  • Wed, Jan 7: Liverpool (Home)
  • Sat, Jan 10: FA Cup Round 3
  • W/C Jan 12: League Cup Semi-Final Leg 1
  • Sat, Jan 17: Nottingham Forest (Away)
  • Jan 20-21: Champions League Matchday 7
  • Sat, Jan 24: Manchester United (Home)
  • Wed, Jan 28: Champions League Matchday 8
  • Sat, Jan 31: Leeds United (Away)

January saw the introduction of the new Champions League format's final group stage matches. The home game against Liverpool on January 7th was a standout fixture, occurring right before the FA Cup campaign kicked off.

February 2026: The Away Derby

The second North London Derby took place in February, this time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

  • W/C Feb 2: League Cup Semi-Final Leg 2
  • Sat, Feb 7: Sunderland (Home)
  • Wed, Feb 11: Brentford (Away)
  • Sat, Feb 14: FA Cup Round 4
  • Feb 17-18: Champions League Play-offs Leg 1 (if required)
  • Sat, Feb 21: Tottenham Hotspur (Away)
  • Feb 24-25: Champions League Play-offs Leg 2 (if required)
  • Sat, Feb 28: Chelsea (Home)

February's schedule is often dictated by whether a club finishes in the top eight of the Champions League group stage. Avoiding the play-offs in mid-February is crucial for maintaining domestic momentum, especially with the Chelsea match looming at the end of the month.

March 2026: Round of 16 and Cup Finals

The business end of the season began in earnest in March.

  • Wed, Mar 4: Brighton & Hove Albion (Away)
  • Sat, Mar 7: FA Cup Round 5
  • Mar 10-11: Champions League Round of 16 Leg 1
  • Sat, Mar 14: Everton (Home)
  • Mar 17-18: Champions League Round of 16 Leg 2
  • Sat, Mar 21: Wolverhampton Wanderers (Away)
  • Sun, Mar 22: League Cup Final
  • Mar 23-30: International Break

With the League Cup final scheduled for March 22nd, any Arsenal involvement would result in the postponement of the Wolves game. March is frequently the month where squad depth is tested to its absolute limit as multiple knockout competitions collide.

April 2026: The Home Stretch

April fixtures are traditionally where the Premier League title is either won or lost.

  • Sat, Apr 4: FA Cup Quarter-Final
  • Apr 7-8: Champions League Quarter-Final Leg 1
  • Sat, Apr 11: AFC Bournemouth (Home)
  • Apr 14-15: Champions League Quarter-Final Leg 2
  • Sat, Apr 18: Manchester City (Away)
  • Sat, Apr 25: Newcastle United (Home) or FA Cup Semi-Final
  • Apr 28-29: Champions League Semi-Final Leg 1

The trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City on April 18th was circled by fans as a "six-pointer." The potential conflict with the FA Cup semi-final on April 25th remains a variable that could lead to fixture rescheduling later in the season.

How to Check for Arsenal Fixture Changes

Football fixtures are rarely set in stone once the initial list is released in June. Several factors contribute to the "moving parts" of the Arsenal schedule:

  1. TV Broadcast Selections: In the UK, Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime Video select matches for live broadcast. This often moves a Saturday 3:00 PM game to a Friday night, Sunday afternoon, or Monday evening.
  2. European Progression: If Arsenal progresses in the Champions League, their following Premier League game is often moved to Sunday to allow for a 72-hour recovery window.
  3. Domestic Cup Success: Progression to the later rounds of the FA Cup or Carabao Cup will inevitably cause Premier League games to be postponed and rescheduled for midweek slots later in the season.

Fans are encouraged to sync their digital calendars with official club sources to receive real-time updates on kick-off times and date changes.

Champions League Impact on the Schedule

The 2025/26 season features the expanded Champions League format. For Arsenal, this means a minimum of eight matches in the initial phase, two more than the previous format. This adds two extra midweek nights in January, a month that was previously reserved for domestic cup action and a short winter break.

The knock-on effect is a more compressed Premier League schedule. The club's medical and fitness staff must manage the increased "red zone" minutes for key players. Matches immediately following a Tuesday or Wednesday European night are statistically more difficult to win, making the squad's "B-team" performance in early cup rounds even more vital.

Key Matchups to Watch

The North London Derby

Arsenal vs. Tottenham remains the most anticipated fixture in the calendar. The home match in November and the away match in February are the two dates every fan looks for first. These games often determine the momentum for the subsequent month of fixtures.

Facing Manchester City

In recent seasons, the battle with Manchester City has become the de facto title decider. The September home game and the April away game serve as the bookends for Arsenal's title challenge.

The Festive Period

The run of six games in December, including two games against Aston Villa and a tricky trip to Goodison Park to face Everton, represents the "winter grind." Historically, teams that top the table on January 1st have a significantly higher percentage chance of winning the league.

Summary of the Arsenal Season Flow

Arsenal’s 2025/26 fixture list is a journey of escalating difficulty. From the baptism of fire in August at Old Trafford to the relentless rhythm of the spring, the schedule tests every facet of the club. The current focus on the Champions League semi-finals against Atlético Madrid and the concluding games in May 2026 represents the pinnacle of this year-long effort.

Success in these match fixtures depends not just on the 11 players on the pitch, but on the strategic planning of the coaching staff to navigate one of the most congested calendars in the club's history.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When are the next Arsenal fixtures?

As of late April 2026, the next major fixtures include the Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid (April 29 and May 5) and Premier League games against Fulham, West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace.

Why do Arsenal match dates keep changing?

Matches are frequently rescheduled due to television broadcasting requirements by networks like Sky Sports and TNT, as well as clashes with domestic cup rounds (FA Cup) and European competition progression.

Where can I find the full Arsenal 2025/26 schedule?

The full schedule is released by the Premier League in mid-June. However, specific kick-off times for the second half of the season are usually confirmed only 4-6 weeks in advance.

How many games will Arsenal play in the 2025/26 season?

Arsenal will play 38 Premier League games. Depending on their success in the Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup, the total number of competitive matches could exceed 60.

Are there any midweek Premier League games for Arsenal?

Yes, the 2025/26 season includes five scheduled midweek rounds in the Premier League, notably in early December and early January.