Arsenal Premier League fixtures 2021/22: Gunners in horror start with Chelsea and Man City up first along with Brentford

ARSENAL will play Chelsea and Manchester City in the opening weeks of the 2021-22 Premier League season.

After a strong finish to a poor campaign saw Mikel Arteta's side come home eighth last time out, the Gunners face an uphill battle in carrying that momentum forward.

Brentford are first up on August 14, the second year in a row that the side kick off their campaign away to a newly-promoted club from West London.

Chelsea then travel to the Emirates before a trip to Manchester City and a clash with another Premier League newboy, Norwich.

The first North London derby takes place on Arsenal territory on September 25 before the return fixture at Tottenham on January 15.

On November 30, Arteta takes his team to Old Trafford for a midweek match with Manchester United before a late-season meeting between the sides in the capital on April 23.

In fact, the Gunners may be quietly optimistic about their run-in.

April begins with games against Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton before United come to town.

Then the season is seen out away to West Ham, at home to Leeds, away to Newcastle and with a final day home fixture against Everton.

The Christmas period promises to be a test with Norwich away on Boxing Day before consecutive home games against Wolves and Manchester City, the latter set for New Year's Day.

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The turn of the year promises to be a testing time with City, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool all up in the first seven games of 2022.

This season will be Arsenal's first without European football since 1995-96, meaning extra rest between games at the very least.

But their Carabao Cup campaign begins in the second round on the week of August 25 as a result.

Fans online have reacted with cautious optimism at the difficult start.

One Gooner wrote online: "We will pass the test. I believe in Arteta."

Another asked: "Why do we always have City at the start of the season ffs."

And one Arsenal supporter posted: "Facing 3 of top 6 teams in first 6 GWs. Someone so badly want Arteta out. We ain't afraid bring it on!"

But another lamented: "Those opening fixtures lol sort those transfers out or we'll be in the relegation zone in GW3."

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