Arsenal kicked-off their 2022/23 Premier League season in the perfect manner on Friday evening with a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.
Brazilian forward scored the Gunners’ first goal of the campaign after 20 minutes, heading the ball past Vicente Guaita from Oleksandr Zinchenko's smart assist. The three points were secured in the 85 minute when Marc Guehi’s deflection fired Bukayo Saka’s effort into the back of the net.
The victory was just Arsenal’s second win against the Eagles in nine games and was a big improvement on April’s 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park last season - a loss that had a huge impact on Mikel Arteta's side missing out on Champions League football.
Read more: What Arteta said during team talk, forgotten signing stars - Arsenal moments missed vs Palace
With the Gunners tipped to be one of the sides battling it out for a top four finish this season, football.london compares their next seven games with their league rivals Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Leicester City (H) - Saturday, 13 August
The Gunners’ first fixture at the Emirates Stadium sees Brendan Rodgers bring his Leicester side to North London. The Foxes have previously struggled for wins when visiting Arsenal, with their 1-0 win in October 2020 the first since 1966.
Leicester host Brentford this weekend in their opening game of the season, with Rodgers’ side the only team in the Premier League without any incomings. There could also be a sighting of Youri Tielemans, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Gunners this summer.
Bournemouth (A) - Saturday, 20 August
The first of two straight games against newly-promoted sides, Arteta’s men make the 115-mile trip to the Vitality Stadium in their third game looking to extend their impressive run against the Cherries.
Arsenal have won nine of the 12 previous meetings against Bournemouth, unbeaten in the previous five meetings. The last time they were defeated by Scott Parker’s side, Jordan Ibe's 74th minute strike was the difference.
Fulham (H) - Saturday, 27 August
Marco Silva’s difficult return to the Premier League continues in North London after already facing Liverpool and Wolves prior to their visit to the Emirates Stadium.
Home form will be huge in the Gunners making a return to the Champions League and they face a side they have avoided defeat against since 2012 - a game that boss Arteta started in.
Aston Villa (H) - Wednesday, 31 August
A day prior to the transfer deadline, the Gunners welcome Steven Gerrard’s Villa to the Emirates to conclude a rather comfortable month of fixtures. Arsenal eased past the West Midlands side last season, winning 3-1 at home and 1-0 at Villa Park.
Further reinforcements may have been added for this fixture, with victory in their first mid-week contest of the season setting them up nicely for their first tough test the following weekend.
Manchester United (A) - Sunday, 4 September
Arsenal’s first test against one of their rivals for Champions League football comes in the shape of a trip to Old Trafford. Last season’s 3-2 defeat will be on the minds of the Gunners, but all seems unclear of the future of United’s star man Cristiano Ronaldo.
Victory would be only their second in nine visits to Manchester and possibly play a huge role in the table come the end of the season in May.
Everton (H) - Sunday, 11 September
Frank Lampard’s Everton will be hoping for a better season than the one they encountered last campaign. The Toffees survived relegation with a game to spare after a poor start under Rafa Benitez and the former Chelsea midfielder will be hoping for a reaction from his squad.
Losing Richarlison to Spurs won’t help and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffering an injury before the start of the season, this should be a game Arsenal collect all three points.
Brentford (A) - Sunday, 18 September
The Gunners’ final game before the first international break of the season is the short trip to the Brentford Community Stadium. Revenge for last season’s 2-0 defeat will be on the mind’s of the players and Arteta.
Whether the Bees will suffer with the well-known ‘second season syndrome’ remains unclear, but Thomas Frank’s side have improved this summer - despite the departure of Christian Eriksen.
Tottenham’s first eight fixtures
Southampton (H) - August 6
Chelsea (A) - August 14
Wolves (H) - August 20
Nottingham Forest (A) - August 28
West Ham (A) - August 31
Fulham (H) - September 3
Manchester City (A) - September 10
Leicester City (H) - September 17
Manchester United’s first eight fixtures
Brighton (H) - August 7
Brentford (A) - August 13
Liverpool (H) - August 22
Southampton (A) - August 27
Leicester City (A) - September 1
Arsenal (H) - September 4
Crystal Palace (A) - September 11
Leeds (H) September 18
Chelsea’s first eight fixtures
Everton (A) - August 6
Spurs (H) - August 14
Leeds (A) - August 21
Leicester (H) - August 27
Southampton (A) - August 30
West Ham (H) - September 4
Fulham (A) - September 10
Liverpool (H) - September 18
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