With a winter World Cup for the first time ever this season, the fixture list takes on a different complexion for 2022/23.
Domestic football takes a break from mid-November, until after the World Cup final in Qatar on December 18.
It means the Europa League group stage will be wrapped up earlier than usual, before the knock-out stages resume in February.
The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday, August 5 – we take on Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in our first match, with four further matchdays scheduled for the first month - the first game at Emirates Stadium is against Leicester City the following weekend.
Our Europa League campaign – our fourth in the competition – kicks off on Thursday, September 8. We go straight into the group stage, and we’ll know our three initial opponents when the draw is made on Friday, August 26.
The final group stage matchday is on Thursday, November 3. If we finish top, we will progress straight to the Round of 16 on March 9/16, finishing second means we will have to play in the play-off round in February 16/23. If we finish third in the group, we will drop down to the Europa Conference League, which is in its second season.
The Premier League matches we play immediately after the UEL group games are at home to Everton, Brentford away, Liverpool at home, Leeds United away, Nottingham Forest at home and away to Chelsea. These are all due to be moved back to the Sunday (or Monday if selected for live TV coverage).
The Europa League final takes place on Wednesday, May 31, at the Puskas Arena Budapest, Hungary. Winning that secures a place in the 2023/24 Champions League.
Europa League matches generally kick off at either 5.45pm or 8pm UK time.
We are due to play 16 Premier League games before the World Cup hiatus, and also kick off our Carabao Cup bid – we enter at the third-round stage – on Wednesday, November 9.
Players will depart for the World Cup immediately after Premier League Matchday 16 on the weekend of November 12 and 13.
Of our current first-team squad, 18 have been capped by countries that have qualified for Qatar 2022. The World Cup final takes place on Sunday, December 18, and domestic football resumes with the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on December 21.
The Premier League returns on Boxing Day, when we face West Ham United at home. That means there are no Emirates Stadium fixtures scheduled in the league between October 29 and December 26.
The Emirates FA Cup third round is to be played on the weekend of January 7/8 with only the third and fourth rounds this season going to replays if necessary.
The FA Cup final will take place on Saturday, June 3 – after the conclusion of the Premier League season, which is on Sunday, May 28. We host Wolves on the final day. The Carabao Cup final is set for Sunday, February 26.
Aside from the World Cup, there are two other international breaks during the season – in late September and late March. International fixtures are also planned for mid-June once the season is over.
Key Dates 2022/23
Premier League starts: August 5, 2022
Europa League group stage draw: August 26, 2022
Europa League group stage starts: September 8, 2022
Carabao Cup starts: November 9, 2022
World Cup opening match: November 21, 2022
World Cup final: December 18, 2022
FA Cup starts: January 6, 2023
Carabao Cup final: February 26, 2023
Premier League final day: May 28, 2023
Europa League final: May 31, 2023
FA Cup final: June 3, 2023
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