As Arsenal prepare for another demanding campaign, the excitement of seeing the reigning Premier League champions back in action is already beginning to build.
However, I wish Arsenal could skip pre-season and start the 2026/27 Premier League campaign instead.
The Gunners commence their pre-season schedule next Saturday, 1 August, away to Spanish side Girona before facing Real Betis four days later in Ireland’s fair city, Dublin.
Once Arsenal have faced both of those sides, they will host the Emirates Cup against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, 9 August, before playing Como back in London and finally Manchester City in the Community Shield at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Does Arsenal really need five pre-season games?
Arsenal already have to play at least 48 matches across all competitions in 2026/27, the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup and FA Cup, and that is only the bare minimum.
Last season, Mikel Arteta’s side played a club-record and mammoth 63-game campaign, something they had never had to endure before. If you include the 2025/26 pre-season matches, the grand total rises to an incredible 68 fixtures.
Overall, that equates to more than 6,000 minutes of football, without even adding stoppage time or extra time. That may not sound like a lot, but it was more football than any other team in Europe played during the 2025/26 season.
Does it really matter if Arsenal play an extra five games before the season starts?
I personally don’t think it hurts to play a couple of matches so that different tactics, team changes and new players can be experimented with to sharpen Arteta’s plans for the new season.
However, I don’t think it is healthy to squeeze five pre-season games into just 15 days. It is not fair on the players, especially those returning from the World Cup who have barely had a break since last summer, when the 2025/26 pre-season friendlies began.
Arsenal’s World Cup stars need time to recover
Seven Arsenal players returned from the World Cup with medals.
Three members of Spain’s victorious squad were Gunners, while Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze earned bronze medals with England.
That is something for Arsenal supporters to celebrate, but it is also a concern for the players’ health and wellbeing. They are expected to perform at their utmost during every 90-minute football match, or longer, yet many have had very little opportunity to recover properly.
Despite earning massive wages, footballers are still human beings, not robots. They should not be treated like puppets on a string in the football show industry that the modern game is increasingly becoming.
We all want to see Arsenal back in action, but surely the players need a genuine break before another long season begins.
Do you agree with Liam, Gooners? Are five pre-season matches in 15 days excessive after such a demanding World Cup summer, or are they necessary preparation for the new campaign?
Liam Harding
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Notice that the Spuds are playing Chelsea in Sydney this week. Ticket prices are quite hefty considering its just an exhibition game, possibly with star players simply making brief cameo appearances. With nothing to play for except selling shirts it’s a non event and the practice time could be better utilised. From an Arsenal perspective there is nothing to be envious of. We are the superior brand. Even before clinching the title, I was noticing the ever increasing numbers of kids under 12, incuding, girls, wearing the Gunners shirt.
Spot on post Michelle. Towards the end of the season you could see key players literally on their last legs from exhaustion. More games are the last thing we need but hopefully all the fringe players will be used and players at the world cup will be rested.
I left it late trying to get a ticket for 2 of the ties and Borussia Dortmund was sold out (apart from hospitality)so I’m watching the Como game instead. It shows what winning the league can do.
We all know it’s more or less a training match but it does give some of the youngsters a chance to shine and kicks off the season with a great atmosphere and lots of families going along when getting a league fixture is rarer than hen’s teeth
At least the matches are no further away than Girona so no jet lag
As for the number of matches, a lot depends on domestic cup runs. Now that Arsenal are the champions, the pressure is off. I think that Arteta was obviously desperate to win something and over used some players in the process.
we have a big squad, and can utilize fringe players in the
pre season games. MLS can play, as can Nwaneri and dowman. Rice and Saka will be rested for the whole of august (?) the new addition´s can play.
Unfortunately for us fans who wish to curb the amount of games being accumulated for our players as we see what could potentially happen to them if we keep going down this road, the clubs keep agreeing to pre season games for extra revenue, media exposure.
Top clubs at this rate will need 3 quality players per position to maintain what is required.
We have to remember that it is a business that could generate billions of pounds of revenue so why not exploit as much as you can and unfortunately it is us as fans that cop it with ticket and merchandise hiked prices
Onwards and upwards
No problem as mostly fringe and youth players will be playing in a majority of these preseason games. If any regulars are used it will be for just a short period and these games are essentially for getting players fit and up to speed. I’ve been to these games many times where usually the complete team gets subbed off during play.
Good points discussed by Liam in balanced presentation. There are also the behind closed door games and travels. Are all these for competitiveness purpose only or business oriented? I think Arsenal hired a new medical chief and his expert inputs possibly were incorporated in those decisions. For context Man City had only 1 pre season last term. The plausible answer for this intriguing issue is more scientific
Dan,
You’ve not taken into account the clubs constant greed for money. The be all and end all I’m afraid.
Liam Harding,
My apologies, I must learn to check who wrote said articles, OOPS! 😂
Going to say lol what did I say now lol
Dan,
Yes getting the blame again. OOPS!. 😂👍
Liam, sorry but I’ve got to pick you up on the record number of games The Arsenal have played in a season. The record is 70 and that was in the 79/80 season, and that doesn’t include pre-season friendlies.
Let the youth play, they need to develop and the club needs see what they have. Meaningless games anyway, and most 1st team just need rest after world cup, not more training.
Preseason friendlies are not “games” they are sessions to get players, all players, match fit. Preseason friendlies used to be played behind close doors, without much attention and were played just the same. They are no more than extensions of training sessions. But now the clubs make money out of them, making them look like preseason competitions. They are not extra games and the “squad” is used more for fitness. Preseason friendlies have always been played.