The Gunners face Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City very early on
Anyone who likes to believe that fixtures really are generated over a five minute period just before they are announced had their vision crushed twice yesterday - first by the BBC revealing how they are collated and then by Sky Sports News, who leaked Arsenal’s first six matches.
A graphic displaying their supposed opening games* was briefly flashed on screen and they won’t be too happy with them. Instead of starting at home - as they have done in 13 of the last 17 seasons - they kick off away to West Ham and face Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City before the end of September.
The Gunners made a mess of a far easier start last season but can take comfort from the fact that on the four occasions that they have begun a Premier League campaign away, they have won the title twice and finished second twice.
*Of course, it’s also possible that they are a fabricated set that were created for a mock-up that should never have been aired.
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7 responses so far
1 Garreth // Jun 16, 2009 at 9:32 am
Of course these are false fixtures, they haven’t allowed for the two games over the bank holiday weekend in August that have been arranged as a result of condensing the season to allow extra time off ahead of the World Cup. There’s also the small matter of a Champions League qualifier that would change the dates of the matches.
Definite graphic mock-up.
2 Tominey // Jun 16, 2009 at 9:45 am
The CL qualifier would be played mid week so doesn’t change those dates…..2 games over August bank holiday has never happened !
However that would mean Spurs being away 3 times on a spin or at home first 2 games on a spin..
probably a test card
3 Carlton Goal // Jun 16, 2009 at 9:56 am
There were no midweek fixtures in the opening week last season and I don’t think Premier League teams will ever play twice in the same weekend.
Therefore I think it’s plausible that these are the fixtures and Spurs could start HAAHHA. I hope it’s wrong though as I don’t want Arsenal on the opening day!
4 Tominey // Jun 16, 2009 at 9:59 am
There are midweek fixtures this year as listed by the official dates. The are also on Stokes website for clarity
5 Carlton Goal // Jun 16, 2009 at 10:17 am
Cheers, I wasn’t aware of that.
However, that midweek also features the first play-off round of the Europa League so they could have organised it so that Spurs are playing Fulham, Villa or Everton at that point, meaning it would also be moved.
I guess it’s rather unlikely but either way it seems ridiculous having a set of midweek fixtures at a point where four Premier League teams aren’t able to compete, meaning there could be only six matches.
6 manutd93 // Jun 17, 2009 at 8:01 am
Fifa has issued a warning to all countries that their domestic season MUST finish 6 weeks prior to the start of the World cup meaning 2 games will have to be played over the August as there is a lack of midweek slots due to the Europa league which now has more games. In addition there will be 4 fixtures played over the Christmas period and 4 fixtures in midweek. Also other fixtures have been leaked on skysports on skytext page 263.
7 Steph // Jun 17, 2009 at 9:25 am
After the release of the fixtures today, these were wrong.