How Arsenal are expected to line up for first 2026/27 Premier League match

Arsenal could be without several key players for the start of their Premier League title defence.

This summer’s World Cup saw a number of key Gunners stars involved right up until the final two stages of the tournament.

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As a result, they have returned late for pre-season following extended time off ahead of the new campaign.

Meanwhile, a potential injury crisis in defence will also limit their options at the beginning of the season.

Despite that, Mikel Arteta is still blessed with options further forward, including two new summer signings.

His side begin the season at home to Championship winners Coventry City on Friday, August 21.

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 8pm, live on talkSPORT, five days after the Community Shield against Manchester City.

So, how will Arsenal line-up for their first match of the new Premier League season?

Arteta’s selection headaches

Arteta is only set to be without two first-team players for the visit of Coventry on opening weekend.

Jurrien Timber and William Saliba have already been ruled out of the contest due to injury.

The former has been sidelined with a groin issue since March, which caused him to miss the World Cup for the Netherlands.

Although Timber has returned to light training, the clash with the Sky Blues will come too soon for his return.

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As for Saliba, he was forced off with a back injury during France’s World Cup final defeat to Spain last month.

The centre-back is currently in the rest stage of his recovery process and is not expected to return to training until after Arsenal’s opening fixture.

Elsewhere, David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze all returned later for pre-season due to their World Cup exploits.

Having reached the last four, they were handed extended breaks following the tournament.

Whilst Eze and Merino featured against Como in the Gunners’ final friendly outing, Zubimendi, Rice and Saka were absent.

Rice battled both injury and illness at the World Cup as England finished third.

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How will Arsenal line-up on opening day?

Raya made his return to action in the second half against Como, keeping a clean sheet before helping Arsenal win on penalties.

The Gunners’ No.1 will retain his place as first-choice this season after winning third successive Premier League golden glove.

It is ahead of him where Arteta has decisions to make, though, with Timber and Saliba both unavailable.

Ben White is expected to start at right-back against Coventry as the only recognised senior player in the position in Timber’s absence.

Meanwhile, Cristhian Mosquera will likely partner Gabriel in central defence to avoid having two left-footed centre-backs in the side.

As a result, Piero Hincapie may instead get the nod at left-back ahead of Riccardo Calafiori to begin the season.

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The Ecuador international started in the role the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in May.

Moving into midfield, Arteta fluctuates between a flat three and two deeper players behind a No.10.

The Arsenal boss has used both systems in pre-season but is known to favour an attacking 4-3-3 when facing weaker sides.

This could see Bruno Guimaraes make his league debut after signing from Newcastle United for £75million.

Both Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze would then join him in an exciting trio for the Gunners.

In attack, Saka’s delayed return to pre-season could see fellow England star Noni Madueke start after he featured against Como.

On the left, meanwhile, new arrival Christos Tzolis is set to be rewarded for an impressive summer.

The Greece winger has scored once and added two assists in four matches amid speculation surrounding Gabriel Martinelli’s future.

Tzolis and Madueke are expected to flank Viktor Gyokeres in the centre-forward role.

Following his own move to north London last summer, Gyokeres ended his debut season with 21 goals in all competitions.