Club
Arsenal
2025/26 Premier League champions. North London hub for title defence coverage.
Arsenal coverage hub on The Free Role.
Coverage
How Deal Sheets Buy Premier League Clubs Two Extra Hours on Deadline Night
The window shuts at 23:00 BST on 1 September, but clubs can still complete signings until 01:00 if they lodge a deal sheet in time. Here is what that paperwork actually does.
Premier League Deadline Day 2026: Fernandez, Alvarez, Gakpo and the Clock
The summer window closes at 23:00 BST on 1 September. Chelsea agreed Lamine Camara for £38m on 30 August. Fernandez, Alvarez, Gakpo and Sarr are the live files before paperwork runs out.
Arsenal Won 1-0 at Villa Park and Villa Still Have No Shot on Target
Bukayo Saka scored in the 59th minute as Arsenal beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park on Monday. Riccardo Calafiori assisted. Villa remain pointless with zero shots on target after two games.
Watkins Left for £51m. Villa Face Arsenal With a Rebuilt Spine Tonight.
Update, 31 August: Aston Villa sold Ollie Watkins to Al-Hilal for £51m on 30 August. Martinez is at Chelsea. Goretzka and Suzuki start tonight against Arsenal at Villa Park, 20:00 BST.
Five English Clubs Drew Europe's Heavyweights. None Got an Easy Route.
The 2026-27 Champions League league phase draw on 27 August handed Arsenal Real Madrid at home and Bayern away. City, Villa, Liverpool, and United all face elite European tests before January.
Matchweek 2 Tests Whether the Big Spenders Can Stop Bleeding Points
Premier League Matchweek 2 runs from Friday 28 August to Monday 31 August. Opening weekend punished lapses. Weekend two asks if the expensive squads stabilize.
Arsenal's Title Defence Starts Friday. The Shopping List Is Still Out.
Arsenal open the Premier League at home to Coventry on Friday. Arteta just won the Shield, said the squad still needs strengthening, and the window runs for another 13 days.
Does Winning the Community Shield Mean Anything? The Numbers Say No
Only eight of the last 34 Community Shield winners went on to win the Premier League. Arsenal's 3-0 win over City says more about August fitness than May.
Lewis-Skelly Started the Shield. The Chelsea Enquiry Still Needs a Seller.
Myles Lewis-Skelly started the Community Shield, assisted after 23 seconds, and began the move for Arsenal's third. Chelsea's enquiry now has a team sheet to live with. Friday is the next test.
What Cardiff Taught Us About Arsenal and Maresca's City
Arsenal's 3-0 Community Shield win came from open play. Maresca's first official night showed a midfield still being built, and Arteta's minutes answers arrived in public.
Arsenal 3-0 Man City. Calafiori Needed 23 Seconds.
Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield in Cardiff. Calafiori scored after 23 seconds, Havertz headed a second, and Odegaard finished the afternoon just after half-time.
Does the Community Shield Go to Extra Time?
No. The FA Community Shield is 90 minutes, then penalties if the scores are level. Here is the format, why 2026 is in Cardiff, and why both managers still treat it as a trophy.