Champions start at Wigan

They will be walking in a Wigan wonderland on August 13.

The newly-promoted side got the game they wanted when the Premier League fixtures were published today, with champions Chelsea the visitors to the JJB Stadium on the opening day of the season.

It promises to be a carnival atmosphere and one which manager Paul Jewell and owner Dave Whelan will no doubt savour.

Wigan, once struggling in the backwater of non-league football, will have to hit the ground running, however, in their first crack at the top flight.

After visiting Charlton on August 20, they travel to Old Trafford four days later to face Manchester United.

Chelsea may not relish the test at Wigan – a town where rugby league remains king – and it will hardly be a walk in the park either for Arsenal and United.

The Gunners start at home to Newcastle while Alex Ferguson’s side travel to Goodison Park and a match against fellow Champions League contenders Everton.