Only 13-time Premier League champions Manchester United have recorded more game victories in the competition than Arsenal and that dominance is reflected in the Gunners' record on the opening day of each season.
The north London outfit are three-time winners themselves, but Tony Blair was the British Prime Minister the last time Arsenal hoisted the Premier League trophy aloft.
During his lengthy tenure, former manager Arsene Wenger made a habit of getting Arsenal's season off on the right foot with an opening-day victory; a result that would often set the tone for a successful campaign, even if it didn't end in silverware. And while the Gunners endured an opening-day wobble towards the end of the Frenchman's reign, their record in season openers is one of the most impressive in the competition's history.
Here's a rundown of Arsenal's Premier League opening day record.
Arsenal's Premier League opening day results
Arsenal had to wait three seasons to get their first Premier League opening day win after they suffered humiliating home defeats to Norwich and Coventry to open up their 1992/93 and 1993/94 campaigns respectively.
Despite their shaky start, the Gunners have generally enjoyed the opening weekend of the season, winning 17 of their 31 season openers. After securing their first opening day win against Man City in 1994, Arsenal then lost just one of their next 18 openers.
They've faced several teams multiple times to open their account, including Liverpool, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham, and Leicester, but none more so than Everton, who they've taken on three times. The Gunners' biggest opening-day win came against the Toffees in 2009/10 as Cesc Fabregas notched a brace in an emphatic 6-1 triumph at Goodison Park.
Arsenal's victory on Merseyside followed a trend of the north London club having success away from home on the opening day. While 20 of their opening day games have come out home, including the first-ever competitive fixture at the Emirates in 2006 against Aston Villa, Arsenal have played 11 times on the road and lost just twice - most recently to Brentford on the opening night of the 2021/22 season.
The Gunners' last four opening day games have come away from home, but that succeeded a streak of seven-straight openers at the Emirates, a run which included memorable games against Liverpool (4-3 defeat) and Leicester (4-3 win).
Arsenal's Premier League opening day record
This article was originally published on 90min as Arsenal's Premier League record on the opening day.
