Premier League: 10 things to look out for as the new season kicks off
Quick summary
The Guardian previews the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season with a listicle of 10 key storylines, themes, and subplots to follow.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceManchester United’s new-look midfield, Ipswich’s ambition is tested and Kevin Keegan tributes at Newcastle
While Myles Lewis-Skelly looks likely to remain at the Emirates , the same can’t be said for Ethan Nwaneri. The 19-year-old was outstanding in his breakthrough season for Arsenal in 2024-25 but barely featured last season and was sent on loan to Marseille. That didn’t really work out and Arsenal are now exploring another temporary move to ensure Nwaneri gets regular football this season. Milan, RB Leipzig, Dortmund and Fulham are all thought to be interested, with Nwaneri unlikely to feature on the bench for Friday’s opener against Coventry as a result. Whether Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are available remains to be seen as Arsenal attempt to find suitors for the Brazil duo. Ed Aarons
Arsenal v Coventry City, Friday 8pm (all times BST)
Hull City v Manchester United, Saturday 12.30pm
Ipswich Town v Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
Nottingham Forest v Leeds, Saturday 3pm
Brighton v Aston Villa, Sunday 2pm
Manchester City v Bournemouth, Sunday 2pm
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What happened
A Guardian editorial previewing the opening of the new Premier League campaign. The article highlights 10 storylines expected to shape the season ahead, ranging from title contenders and promoted clubs to managerial pressure points, tactical trends, and individual player narratives. It serves as a broad orientation piece for fans ahead of matchweek one.
Chance analysis
Season-opening listicles like this one act as a snapshot of the Premier League's pre-season mood — where expectations are set and the narrative arcs for the months ahead are sketched out. For supporters, it frames which clubs and players to watch most closely as the competition gets underway.
No specific team or player impact — this is a general season overview with diffuse, low-strength signals across the league.