Premier League season opens with storylines from Arsenal loans to Keegan tributes
As the Premier League season kicks off this weekend across multiple venues, clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Newcastle, Liverpool and Fulham face a series of major selection and off-field storylines. The opening fixtures begin with Arsenal v Coventry on Friday and run through to Fulham v Chelsea on Monday.
Arsenal’s squad status is uncertain as Myles Lewis-Skelly looks likely to remain at the Emirates while Ethan Nwaneri, 19, is the subject of transfer activity after a difficult spell. Nwaneri, who was outstanding in 2024-25, barely featured last season and was sent on loan to Marseille; Arsenal are now exploring another temporary move to secure regular football after that loan “didn’t really work out.” Milan, RB Leipzig, Dortmund and Fulham are all thought to be interested, and Nwaneri is unlikely to feature on the bench for Friday’s opener against Coventry. Whether Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus will be available is also unresolved as Arsenal attempt to find suitors for the pair.
Manchester United’s summer focus on central midfield will produce selection questions for Michael Carrick, particularly in two key roles for Saturday’s trip to Hull City (kick-off 12.30pm). Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have featured more in pre-season than Kobbie Mainoo, who returned late to Carrington after a holiday and did not play a minute for England at the World Cup. Carlos Baleba will not have arrived in time to start at Hull, leaving Carrick to decide whether to ease Mainoo into the season or pair Santos and Tielemans as a test of a new midfield partnership.
Ipswich’s recruitment drive will be tested immediately at Portman Road when Gary O’Neil’s side host Sunderland on Saturday (3pm). At the time of writing O’Neil has 12 signings to potentially use for the opener, including record arrival Emersonn from Toulouse, a Brazilian striker whose career goalscoring record the article describes as underwhelming and who carries question marks over his suitability. Ipswich need a forward who can cause problems for defenders if they are to pick up points at home.
Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner will hand Ousmane Diomande a debut at the City Ground against Leeds on Saturday (3pm) after signing the Ivorian centre-back from Sporting for £34m. Diomande is expected to line up in a back three alongside Xaver Schlager, who could also make his Forest bow, with Glasner emphasising their experience: “They’ve both played Champions League football and they are used to competing for titles,” said Glasner.
Tottenham have recruited Marcos Senesi after the departure of Cristian Romero to Atlético Madrid, with Roberto De Zerbi seeking greater dependability at centre-back as Spurs aim to improve on recent seasons. Senesi, who impressed at Bournemouth, is characterised in the piece as a calm presence who is good on the ball and more adventurous in possession; he is noted as having not been sent off in three seasons as a Premier League player. Romero’s recent disciplinary record is recorded as two dismissals in 2025-26 plus a one-match ban and a fine for behaviour towards a referee, and Brentford v Tottenham on Saturday (5.30pm) will be an early test for the new defence.
Aston Villa enter the campaign with a string of selection and squad issues ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brighton (2pm). Unai Emery has new signings João Gomes and Johan Manzambi listed as injury doubts; the piece notes Amadou Onana is a long-term casualty and Youri Tielemans has been sold. Villa have also moved on Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne, are attempting to move on Emi Martínez, face uncertainty over the future of Ollie Watkins with Al-Hilal circling, and have a fitness concern over 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo; Emery must also decide whether to start new goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who signed on Wednesday.
Manchester City’s season begins under a cloud following a 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield, and the departure of Rodri to Barcelona is described as a significant transfer-window development that City must absorb. Bournemouth’s new coach Marco Rose, who has faced City six times in the Champions League with Leipzig and Mönchengladbach, is expected to set an aggressive gameplan at the Etihad; a win for Enzo Maresca’s new team over Bournemouth on Sunday (2pm) is presented as a way to arrest scrutiny.
Sunday’s Newcastle v Liverpool fixture at St James’ Park (4.30pm) will be marked by tributes to Kevin Keegan, who died in July and was due to be the guest of honour; Keegan’s family will attend the match. The game will also be the first return to Newcastle for Alexander Isak, described here as the Liverpool striker who forced a £125m move to Anfield last summer and who has a new head coach, Andoni Iraola, to impress. Matthias Jaissle will occupy the Newcastle technical area in place of Eddie Howe.
Real Madrid’s two head coaches from last season meet at Craven Cottage on Monday (8pm) when Fulham host Chelsea, with the focus said to be on Xabi Alonso rather than Álvaro Arbeloa. Arbeloa has brought Gonzalo García and César Palacios with him from the Bernabéu, a move the article states places extra pressure on the trio and leaves their prospects tied to a positive start in the Premier League.
