The traditional curtain-raiser to the English season has a slightly different look this weekend as Arsenal and Manchester City head to Cardiff for the Community Shield.

Arsenal arrive as Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after finally knocking Man City off their perch last season, while the FA Cup holders are beginning life after Pep Guardiola.

Enzo Maresca takes charge of City competitively for the first time on Sunday, renewing his rivalry with Mikel Arteta with the first piece of silverware of 2026/27 on the line.

Neither manager has enjoyed an entirely straightforward pre-season.

Arsenal won just one of their four public friendlies, although penalty shootout victories against Borussia Dortmund and Como perhaps provided useful practice given the nature of this fixture. City drew with Inter Milan before beating a K-League XI and Atletico Madrid 3-1.

Both teams are also dealing with the knock-on effects of the World Cup.

Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi have not played a minute of pre-season and are unlikely to start for Arsenal, while Erling Haaland only recently returned to City training.

That could leave Sunday’s game looking rather different from the heavyweight Premier League meetings we have become accustomed to.

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What are the best picks for Arsenal vs Man City?

Draw after 90 minutes

There is very little separating these teams on paper and neither manager will have their preferred starting XI available.

Four of the last six Community Shields have required penalties, including Arsenal’s victory over City in 2023, and another tight game would hardly be a surprise.

City arguably enjoyed the smoother pre-season, but Arsenal have already gone to penalties twice this summer. With Saka, Rice and Haaland among the players unlikely to start, both sides could lack some of their usual cutting edge.

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Arsenal to lift the trophy

If we are expecting a close game, Arsenal’s recent Community Shield record makes them difficult to ignore in the outright market.

The Gunners have won each of their last five appearances in the competition and all three of their previous Community Shield meetings with Manchester City.

Arteta has also never lost this fixture as either a player or manager, winning in 2014 and 2015 on the pitch before overseeing Arsenal victories in 2020 and 2023.

A penalty shootout would effectively turn this into a coin flip, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved two penalties against Como in midweek and the Gunners have already won two shootouts this pre-season.

Where can I watch Arsenal vs Man City?

Arsenal vs Manchester City kicks off at 3pm BST on Sunday, August 16 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

UK viewers can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 2pm.

The Community Shield has moved away from Wembley this year because the stadium is hosting The Weeknd across five nights in August.

What is the Arsenal team news?

Arsenal will be without William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, leaving Arteta with a decision to make alongside Gabriel in central defence.

Cristhian Mosquera looks the favourite to start, although youngster Marli Salmon has impressed during pre-season.

Bruno Guimaraes is pushing for his first competitive Arsenal start following his £75m summer move. The midfielder came off the bench against Como and should be ready for a bigger role in Cardiff.

Rice, Saka and Zubimendi are available following their World Cup involvement but are unlikely to start after missing pre-season.

What is the Man City team news?

Haaland is back in training but should start on the bench after his extended post-World Cup break, which could leave Omar Marmoush leading the line.

Rodri remains unavailable following back surgery, while Savinho has missed training through illness.

Tijjani Reijnders’ future is also uncertain amid interest from Saudi Arabia, meaning Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez could form Maresca’s midfield partnership.

New signing Elliot Anderson is available but may have to settle for a place among the substitutes.

What is Arsenal’s predicted team?

Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly; Madueke, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz

What is Man City’s predicted team?

Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Kovacic, Gonzalez; Savinho, Foden, Semenyo; Marmoush

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