English football’s curtain raiser is upon us as Arsenal and Manchester City kick-start the season with the Community Shield at Wembley.
Arsenal are set to renew hostilities with Manchester City from last season and begin the new campaign with the Community Shield curtain-raiser at Wembley. The two sides fought for the Premier League title last season and will test their wits against each other in this first competitive game of the season.
Arsenal come into this one with a strong pre-season under their belt. Barring the defeat against Manchester United in New Jersey, the Gunners have looked sharper with each passing game. Their latest was at the Emirates against AS Monaco, with Mikel Arteta’s side needing to win the penalty shootout arranged at the end of the clash.
Arteta will have all eyes firmly settled on the opening-day fixture against Nottingham Forest. Yet, the Manchester City clash provides an opportunity to test his team’s character, especially of the new signings that arrived in what has been a monumental transfer window.
Only one of the last 12 Community Shield winners have gone on to win the Premier League title. Manchester City showed that last season when they lost to Liverpool in this fixture. That game produced plenty of narratives regarding both sides. But when the campaign ended, the predictions contrasted enough to silence the critics.
🗣️ “We start two weeks later than Arsenal so we are not in the best way.”
Pep Guardiola says Arsenal are in a better place physically than Manchester City at this stage. pic.twitter.com/xA5fsJK2JV
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 4, 2023
Pep Guardiola will care less about the above statistics and will urge his team to get a win under their bag. The Catalan boss did side with caution ahead of the game, suggesting that Arsenal have had a two-weeks headstart over his team in pre-season.
Whether that fact comes to bite them in this game remains the question. But Guardiola cannot have qualms with similar complaints when the season begins for them five days after Sunday. The manager will hope to have his side’s fitness tested by Arsenal before they open the domestic season against Burnley on August 12, Friday.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta will likely use this fixture as a drawing board to conduct more experiments. He has not had a consistent starting lineup throughout the pre-season, but he could make a bold statement of what’s to come against Forest in this Wembley clash.
"He'll be back soon"
Mikel Arteta gives an update on Gabriel Jesus 🔴🤕 pic.twitter.com/TpRWnFjnHt
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 4, 2023
His plans were dealt a blow with the absence of Gabriel Jesus, who underwent a minor procedure on the same knee he injured at the World Cup. He will remain sidelined for a few weeks, with a return mooted around the international break.
Oleksandr Zinchenko also remains out with a calf problem, meaning new arrival Jurrien Timber may continue at left-back. The Dutchman has been solid in that position despite being a right-sided defender. Reiss Nelson also continues to recover from his fitness issue and is unlikely to make it to the squad for the Community Shield clash.
Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka, suffering from an illness before the Emirates Cup game, has returned to training and will likely feature in the front three. Gabriel Martinelli could also have a place nailed down on the left-hand side.
There is an apparent dilemma for Arterta to choose the Jesus replacement. Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah have looked sharp during pre-season. But the Belgian might get the nod for this game. There is also the option of Kai Havertz to ponder, but Arteta may have another role in mind for the German international.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Manchester City
There are some fitness issues with Manchester City, with Kevin De Bruyne yet to recover from the hamstring problem suffered during the Champions League Final. Nathan Ake has returned to fitness but is unlikely to start against Arsenal.
What a trio! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/KymcMDZgsd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 4, 2023
Due to fatigue, the Dutchman sat out the Atletico Madrid defeat and might get a place on the bench against Arsenal. Guardiola may also rue the absence of some departed stars like Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan.
New signing Mateo Kovacic might get the nod to start in advanced midfield alongside Phil Foden. Guardiola might resort to a similar style he deployed in the latter part of last season, with three at the back and an unusual four men behind Erling Haaland in support.
Manuel Akanji, Kyle Walker, and Ruben Dias could form the backline, while John Stones could join Rodri in midfield. Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish could provide width, while Haaland leads the line for Manchester City. Meanwhile, new signing Josko Gvardiol will not be available for this one.
Probable Lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Silva, Foden, Kovacic, Grealish; Haaland
Key Stats
- Only one of the last 12 winners of the Community Shield have won the Premier League title.
- Manchester City have lost each of their last two Community Shield finals.
- Arsenal won each of their last four Community Shield finals.
- Only Manchester United (21) have won the Community Shield more times than Arsenal (16).
- Arsenal have won three and lost one game against Manchester City while playing at Wembley.
Player to Watch
Declan Rice
Declan Rice in training ahead of the Community Shield match vs City pic.twitter.com/hBoXc07CYD
— Doc (@karthikadhaigal) August 4, 2023
It has been an excellent start to life as Arsenal’s record signing, Declan Rice. The midfielder was seen adapting to a new role in this setup under Arteta, and he could become their box-to-box midfielder on the left side of the pitch.
He could have a big challenge right from the start to defy the odds and help Arsenal beat Manchester City in this Community Shield clash. It has also the team that bid for him during the summer but had his heart set on joining the Gunners all along.
Prediction
Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
The prediction that Manchester City will win stems from the last many clashes the two teams have had. Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the Gunners in the title race last season and could showcase their superiority to lift the Community Shield.
Yet, one should not underestimate Arsenal and their prowess. The Gunners were a young team compared to Manchester City’s experienced stars. They can grow, although whether they can showcase that maturity in the Community Shield remains the question. But Mikel Arteta’s side could put up a big fight on Sunday before losing narrowly.
