As well as that, there are a few other things to be aware of when the action gets underway that will impact our campaign, so here is a full run-down of the need-to-know items before we face Wolves on Saturday:
The Tractor Boys
Ipswich Town celebrate being promoted to the Premier League
While Southampton and Leicester City return to the Premier League after a season away in the Championship, Ipswich Town won promotion to the top-flight for the first time since 2002 and will face us for the first time in the league at Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.
Our first trip to Portman Road since 2011 will be on April 19, and Kieran McKenna’s side will be hoping that the goals of former Gunner academy product and big summer signing Omari Hutchinson will be enough to see them survive.
In the dugout
Arne Slot
As well as McKenna and Southampton’s Russell Martin who are set to make their top-flight managerial debuts this the weekend, there have been plenty of other big-name changes for a host of Premier League sides, headlined by Arne Slot replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Enzo Marseca filled the void left by Mauricio Poccettino at Chelsea, having won the Championship last season at Leicester who appointed Steve Cooper in his place. Aged 31, Fabian Hurzeler will become the youngest-ever manager of a Premier League club after replacing Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton, while former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui is now in charge of West Ham United after David Moyes’ departure.
Already used in European competitions and at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, the Premier League have agreed to implement the technology during the new season as they aim to try to cut down the lengthy times needed using the current VAR-assisted system.
Semi-automated offside should help speed things up by an average of 31 seconds per decision, and it is hoped it can be used from the end of one of the three international breaks between September and November.
VAR
The big screen at Emirates Stadium showing a VAR decision
After the use of VAR was debated by clubs last season, it was determined it should continue to be a part of the game but only after further improvements.
While the aim remains to keep a high threshold for its use and reduce delays - helped by semi-automated offsides - supporters will be pleased to hear that referees will now explain their decisions over the stadium speakers, with replays shown on big screens where possible. The Premier League will also explain VAR decisions on X during matches.
Added time
The fourth official holding a board indicating the amount of stoppage time
Last season saw the Premier League order its match officials to accurately measure stoppages in play, with an average of over three minutes added to halves during each match.
This season, that figure is likely to drop with the league confirming it will only ask its officials to start adding on time 30 seconds after a goal is scored to allow teams adequate time to resume their positions for the restart.
Match officials
Sam Barrott
Referee Sam Barrott will be a more regular face around the league this term, as he has been promoted to the Select Group 1 list of match officials, having been handed 15 top-flight games last season.
The 31-year-old started refereeing aged 16 after suffering an injury while a youth player at Halifax Town, and oversaw our 4-3 win at Luton Town as well as the 6-0 success at Sheffield United. Meanwhile, assistant referee Craig Taylor has also been elevated to the Premier League, having debuted back in January and helped oversee three matches last term.
Winter break
Snow outside Emirates Stadium
Over the past few campaigns, clubs have received a week off during January to recover or participate in warm-weather training, with the league schedule split into five games per week to facilitate this.
However that has now been scrapped, with the season starting a week later than usual to allow players time to recover from international tournaments over the summer months.
Rule tweaks
Anthony Taylor shows a yellow card
No major changes have been made to the laws of the game, with only players not automatically receiving a yellow card to players when conceding a penalty for handball to only real change of note.
If you’re into incredibly niche rule changes, now five subs from a side will be permitted to warm up at the same time, and ballboys will be able to return a ball to goalkeepers if they’re stationed behind the goal, otherwise they have to place it on a cone by the side of the pitch.
Meanwhile team line-ups will be announced 75 minutes before kick-off, as opposed to the previous hour, to fall in line with UEFA competitions.
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