http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-to-face-sunderland-in-opening-game difficult start AUGUST 18 Sat Barclays Premier League Sunderland H 25 Sat Barclays Premier League Stoke City A SEPTEMBER 1 Sat Barclays Premier League Liverpool A 15 Sat Barclays Premier League Southampton H 22 Sat Barclays Premier League Manchester City A 26 Wed Capital One Cup 3rd Round 29 Sat Barclays Premier League Chelsea H OCTOBER 6 Sat Barclays Premier League West Ham United A 20 Sat Barclays Premier League Norwich City A 27 Sat Barclays Premier League Queens Park Rangers H 31 Wed Capital One Cup 4th Round NOVEMBER 3 Sat Barclays Premier League Manchester United A 10 Sat Barclays Premier League Fulham H 17 Sat Barclays Premier League Tottenham Hotspur H 24 Sat Barclays Premier League Aston Villa A 28 Wed Barclays Premier League Everton A DECEMBER 1 Sat Barclays Premier League Swansea City H 8 Sat Barclays Premier League West Bromwich Albion H 12 Wed Capital One Cup Quarter-Final 15 Sat Barclays Premier League Reading A 22 Sat Barclays Premier League Wigan Athletic A 26 Wed Barclays Premier League West Ham United H 29 Sat Barclays Premier League Newcastle United H JANUARY 1 Tue Barclays Premier League Southampton A 5 Sat FA Cup 3rd Round 9 Wed Capital One Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg 12 Sat Barclays Premier League Manchester City H 19 Sat Barclays Premier League Chelsea A 23 Wed Capital One Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg 26 Sat FA Cup 4th Round 29 Tue Barclays Premier League Liverpool H FEBRUARY 2 Sat Barclays Premier League Stoke City H 9 Sat Barclays Premier League Sunderland A 16 Sat FA Cup 5th Round 23 Sat Barclays Premier League Aston Villa H 24 Sun Capital One Cup Final N MARCH 2 Sat Barclays Premier League Tottenham Hotspur A 9 Sat Barclays Premier League Everton (or FA Cup Q/F) H 16 Sat Barclays Premier League Swansea City A 30 Sat Barclays Premier League Reading H APRIL 6 Sat Barclays Premier League West Bromwich Albion A 13 Sat Barclays Premier League Norwich City (or FA Cup S/F) H 20 Sat Barclays Premier League Fulham A 27 Sat Barclays Premier League Manchester United H MAY 4 Sat Barclays Premier League Queens Park Rangers A 11 Sat FA Cup Final N 12 Sun Barclays Premier League Wigan Athletic H 19 Sun Barclays Premier League Newcastle United A
It's not that bad. We really should have at least 5 points heading into the first interlull. The run-in is pretty manageable too, and our post interlull fixtures are pretty favorable. As is the Christmas fixture list.
That's a fairly favorable fixture list for us. I like the fact that we face Man city, Chelsea and Liverpool early on. While we are fully capable of losing any of the 38 games we will play next season, big games cause uncertainty, and I like to get uncertainty out of the way as soon as possible.
That's the only thing I don't like - our recent track record in big fixtures in August/September and January isn't the best, by any means.
A tough September but seems favorable overall. While the run in seems nice, we have a recent trend of struggling regardless of the opponents.
Ah, life...feel like Paul Ashworth in Fever Pitch waiting in the park for the fixture list. The Euros have been a tease for the football club season.
The start will be difficult, but I like the Dec schedule (and even the Nov. after the MU game). Huge opportunity to rack up points then.