The new Arsenal fixtures list comes with an early reminder that last season’s title race was decided by the finest of margins. Arsenal are scheduled to return to Brighton in the 2026-27 Women's Super League, months after a 1-1 draw there in May ensured Manchester City won the 2025-26 title.
That makes the trip more than just another away day. It is a fixture carrying the memory of a result that shaped the outcome of the league, and it arrives in a season that will look different anyway, with the Women's Super League expanding to 14 teams after Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace were promoted from WSL 2. The will broadcast 25 matches during the campaign, adding further focus to a calendar that already has a few early markers worth watching.
Arsenal’s early tests
The schedule gives Arsenal a demanding run of headline games across the opening months. Chelsea are set to host Arsenal on 27 September, before Arsenal travel to Etihad Stadium to play Manchester City on 4 October. Those two matches, either side of a return to Brighton, will quickly show whether Arsenal can turn last season’s near miss into another serious challenge.
There is also no shortage of major fixtures elsewhere. On Friday, 4 September, London City Lionesses are scheduled to host Manchester United at 19:00 BST. On Saturday, 5 September, Chelsea are scheduled to host Aston Villa at 12:30 BST. On the season’s first Sunday, Manchester City are scheduled to begin at home against Birmingham City and Tottenham are scheduled to host West Ham United.
Later in the calendar, Manchester United’s derby game against Manchester City is scheduled for 25 October, while Manchester City are due to go to Stamford Bridge on 14 November. It is the sort of fixture list that should keep the title picture busy well beyond the opening weeks.
For Arsenal, though, the Brighton trip stands out because it is tied directly to the moment last season tipped toward Manchester City. Fixture lists rarely come with that kind of built-in memory. This one does, and that is why the return to Brighton already feels like one of the defining dates of Arsenal fixtures in the new season.
