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Arsenal to host Palace on opening dayArsenal’s first game of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season

Arsenal to host Palace on opening day

Arsenal’s first game of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season is at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, August 16. The Gunners then travel to Goodison Park to face Everton, before finishing the month with a trip to newly-promoted Leicester City. Arsène Wenger’s side host Manchester City on September 13, before taking on Tottenham Hotspur in the first north London derby of the season two weeks later. Seven days after that they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Boxing Day fixture will see Arsenal host Queens Park Rangers at Emirates Stadium, before travelling to Southampton on New Year’s Day. The Gunners are away at Manchester City (January 17) and Tottenham (February 7) at the start of 2015, while April will see them host both Liverpool and Chelsea. Arsenal finish their campaign with a trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United before hosting West Bromwich Albion on the final day. Scroll down this page for the full draft fixture list. To add Arsenal's 2014/15 fixtures to your diary, use our calendar import PLEASE NOTE: All fixtures and kick-off times are SUBJECT TO CHANGE. In addition, fixtures selected as live TV matches are likely to be announced soon. Barclays Premier League fixtures 2014-15 AUGUST 16 Sat H Crystal Palace 23 Sat A Everton 30 Sat A Leicester City SEPTEMBER 13 Sat H Manchester City 20 Sat A Aston Villa 27 Sat H Tottenham Hotspur OCTOBER 4 Sat A Chelsea 18 Sat H Hull City 25 Sat A Sunderland NOVEMBER 1 Sat H Burnley 8 Sat A Swansea City 22 Sat H Manchester United 29 Sat A West Bromwich Albion DECEMBER 2 Tue H Southampton 6 Sat A Stoke City 13 Sat H Newcastle United 20 Sat A Liverpool 26 Fri H Queens Park Rangers 28 Sun A West Ham United JANUARY 1 Thu A Southampton 10 Sat H Stoke City 17 Sat A Manchester City 31 Sat H Aston Villa FEBRUARY 7 Sat A Tottenham Hotspur 10 Tue H Leicester City 21 Sat A Crystal Palace 28 Sat H Everton MARCH 3 Tue A Queens Park Rangers 14 Sat H West Ham United 21 Sat A Newcastle United APRIL 4 Sat H Liverpool 11 Sat A Burnley 18 Sat H Sunderland (or FA Cup S/F) 25 Sat H Chelsea MAY 2 Sat A Hull City 9 Sat H Swansea City 16 Sat A Manchester United 24 Sun H West Bromwich Albion

Wenger to hold Balotelli talks

The Frenchman is set to meet with the striker's agent, Mino Raiola, on Saturday to discuss a deal to bring the Italy international back to the Premier League

Arsene Wenger will meet with Mario Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola on Saturday as Arsenal close in on the €31 million signing of the Italy striker, Goal understands. Wenger is currently in Brazil working as a pundit for French TV and will hold talks with Raiola in an attempt to broker the Gunnders' first major deal of the summer. Having seen Bacary Sagna leave on a free transfer to Manchester City and resisted the temptation to activate the buyback clause in Cesc Fabregas' Barcelona contract, Wenger is now primed to make use of the €122 million warchest it was revealed he would have at his disposal this summer. Wenger is ready to spend up to €31m on the 25-year-old former Manchester City striker, who has scored 28 goals in 51 appearances for AC Milan since returning to Serie A in January 2013. The Gunners boss is understood to be in the market for a marquee striker again this summer after missing out on the likes of Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain 12 months ago, leaving Olivier Giroud as the club’s only recognised senior centre-forward. Raiola revealed earlier on Tuesday that "anything is possible" regarding the possibility of Balotelli signing for Arsenal during the close season. "Arsenal are a fantastic club," he told Sky Sports when asked about the report. "Only eight or 10 clubs in the world can afford Mario Balotelli - like all premium players, and he is one of the greatest. "[Will the move happen?] Anything is possible." Balotelli was on the scoresheet for his country against England in Manaus, netting the winner as the Azzurri got off to a strong start in Group D.