Arsenal's Premier League record on the opening day

Arsenal beat Crystal Palace to open up the 2022/23 season
Arsenal beat Crystal Palace to open up the 2022/23 season / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
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Only 13-time Premier League champions Manchester United have recorded more game victories in the competition than Arsenal and that dominance is reflected in the Gunners' record on the opening day of each season.

The north London outfit are three-time winners themselves, but Tony Blair was the British Prime Minister the last time Arsenal hoisted the Premier League trophy aloft.

During his lengthy tenure, former manager Arsene Wenger made a habit of getting Arsenal's season off on the right foot with an opening-day victory; a result that would often set the tone for a successful campaign, even if it didn't end in silverware. And while the Gunners endured an opening-day wobble towards the end of the Frenchman's reign, their record in season openers is one of the most impressive in the competition's history.

Here's a rundown of Arsenal's Premier League opening day record.


Arsenal's Premier League opening day results

Season

Result

1992/93

Arsenal 2-4 Norwich

1993/94

Arsenal 0-3 Coventry

1994/95

Arsenal 3-0 Man City

1995/96

Arsenal 1-1 Middlesbrough

1996/97

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

1997/98

Leeds 1-1 Arsenal

1998/99

Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest

1999/00

Arsenal 2-1 Leicester

2000/01

Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal

2001/02

Middlesbrough 0-4 Arsenal

2002/03

Arsenal 2-0 Birmingham

2003/04

Arsenal 2-1 Everton

2004/05

Everton 1-4 Arsenal

2005/06

Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle

2006/07

Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa

2007/08

Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

2008/09

Arsenal 1-0 West Brom

2009/10

Everton 1-6 Arsenal

2010/11

Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

2011/12

Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal

2012/13

Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland

2013/14

Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa

2014/15

Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace

2015/16

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

2016/17

Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool

2017/18

Arsenal 4-3 Leicester

2018/19

Arsenal 0-2 Man City

2019/20

Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal

2020/21

Fulham 0-3 Arsenal

2021/22

Brentford 2-0 Arsenal

2022/23

Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal had to wait three seasons to get their first Premier League opening day win after they suffered humiliating home defeats to Norwich and Coventry to open up their 1992/93 and 1993/94 campaigns respectively.

Despite their shaky start, the Gunners have generally enjoyed the opening weekend of the season, winning 17 of their 31 season openers. After securing their first opening day win against Man City in 1994, Arsenal then lost just one of their next 18 openers.

They've faced several teams multiple times to open their account, including Liverpool, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham, and Leicester, but none more so than Everton, who they've taken on three times. The Gunners' biggest opening-day win came against the Toffees in 2009/10 as Cesc Fabregas notched a brace in an emphatic 6-1 triumph at Goodison Park.

Arsenal ran riot at Everton in 2009/10
Arsenal ran riot at Everton in 2009/10 / AFP / Stringer

Arsenal's victory on Merseyside followed a trend of the north London club having success away from home on the opening day. While 20 of their opening day games have come out home, including the first-ever competitive fixture at the Emirates in 2006 against Aston Villa, Arsenal have played 11 times on the road and lost just twice - most recently to Brentford on the opening night of the 2021/22 season.

The Gunners' last four opening day games have come away from home, but that succeeded a streak of seven-straight openers at the Emirates, a run which included memorable games against Liverpool (4-3 defeat) and Leicester (4-3 win).


Arsenal's Premier League opening day record

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goals scored

Goals against

Points

31

17

6

8

54

33

57