Photo: Kieran Clarke / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Arsenal's under-21 side begin their 2026/27 Premier League 2 campaign on Saturday, August 22, hosting Crystal Palace at Meadow Park (1pm UK). The Young Gunners are aiming to extend their 100% record of qualifying for the play-offs.
Twenty-nine Category One academies will take part in the upcoming PL2 season, with each club playing 20 league matches — ten at home and ten away. The top 16 sides at the end of the regular season advance to a post-season knockout tournament that determines the overall winner.
In last year's campaign, Arsenal finished 14th before losing a closely fought opening play-off tie to Manchester City. The two sides are set to meet again in the regular season.
Following the opening fixture against Crystal Palace, Arsenal travel to face defending champions Brighton. The regular-season schedule also features London derbies against Fulham, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Sides finishing between 17th and 24th enter a separate knockout competition alongside the top eight clubs from the Professional Development League, where Category Two academies compete.
Before the PL2 campaign kicks off, Arsenal face Barnet in the opening match of their EFL Trophy group. That game takes place at the Hive on Tuesday, August 18, with kick-off at 7.45pm UK time.