Football fans love drama—and not just the kind that plays out on the pitch.
For Arsenal supporters, the drama began long before the first ball of the 2025–26 Premier League season has even been kicked.
As soon as the fixture list went live, a section of the fanbase went into full meltdown, convinced their beloved club is being unfairly targeted by the powers that be.
Gunners Faced with Tough Start Once Again
Arsenal supporters were bracing themselves when the fixture announcement came out on Wednesday morning.
The goal was simple: map out the route their team must take to finally lift the Premier League title for the first time since 2003.
But the path laid before them has triggered outrage.
Mikel Arteta’s side is set to kick off the season with a high-stakes clash away at Manchester United—yes, the same United that ended last season in a disastrous 15th place.
Things don’t get any easier.
After a home tie against newly promoted Leeds United, Arsenal hit the road again, this time heading to Anfield to face reigning champions Liverpool.
The Gunners’ first six matches also include meetings with Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the Emirates, and an away day at Newcastle.
According to stats firm Opta, this is the second-most difficult start among all 20 Premier League clubs. Only Manchester United face a more brutal opening five games.
Fans Suspect a Bigger Plot Behind the Scenes
Some Arsenal fans wasted no time expressing their suspicions online, with theories ranging from subtle bias to full-blown conspiracy.
One user sarcastically remarked, “They don’t have it in for Arsenal, no? Smh. They do everything – everything – they can.”
Another chimed in with, “Premier League hate Arsenal. Scheduled an incredibly difficult start in the last 2 seasons.”
The frustration stems from more than just tough fixtures.
There’s leftover anger from the previous season, when refereeing standards came under fire.
Many fans believe the scheduling is a kind of “payback” after manager Mikel Arteta and others publicly questioned officiating decisions.
One even speculated, “Is this punishment for calling out the PGMOL? It feels like we’re being punished just for speaking up.”
Fixture Complaints Extend to Referee Distrust
It didn’t stop there. Some fans went as far as to say that watching games no longer feels worthwhile because of what they perceive as biased officiating.
“The refs will just invent a new rule mid-season and only apply it to us,” wrote one disheartened supporter.
“No point watching anymore—they already decide who they want to win.”
The feeling of hopelessness was echoed by others who looked at the opening schedule and predicted doom.
“Probably the hardest start to a season in Arsenal’s history,” one fan claimed.
“We’ll be lucky to get 10 points from the first six games.”
Another jabbed at rival Tottenham, who open their campaign at home to Burnley—an arguably much softer landing spot—mocking the fixture as being handpicked to suit their needs.
Premier League Explains the Fixture Process
Despite the uproar, the Premier League insists that there’s no room for favoritism in how fixtures are created.
The entire list is generated by a computer system, which follows a structured set of guidelines to maintain balance and fairness.
For example, clubs are never scheduled to start or end the season with two consecutive home or away matches.
There’s also a rule to prevent teams from being at home both immediately after Christmas and on New Year’s Day.
The system even takes into account stadium events, fan travel concerns, and police requirements.
Rival Fans Fire Back at Arsenal’s Complaints
Meanwhile, fans of rival clubs took the opportunity to poke fun at Arsenal supporters.
One user quipped, “There is nothing more Arsenal than writing to the Premier League to complain about the schedule—phenomenal stuff.”
Another added, “Arsenal fans are acting like the fixture list is scripted, forgetting that every team plays each other twice anyway.”
What’s Next for the Gunners?
While many fans are already convinced the odds are stacked against them, Arsenal still has a job to do—win games.
Mikel Arteta and his players will need to silence the critics and conspiracies by delivering results, no matter the fixture list.
After three consecutive second-place finishes, the hunger to bring the title back to North London is stronger than ever.
Whether they’re being set up to fail—or just reading too much into a computer-generated calendar—remains to be seen.
But one thing’s clear: the new season hasn’t even started, and Arsenal are already at the heart of Premier League drama.