Man City vs Arsenal: Community Shield Preview

The traditional Premier League curtain raiser is here where the champions face the FA Cup winners. Since Manchester City are both of those things, they face last season’s league runners-up Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday 6th August.

Fans of European club football can breathe a collective sigh of relief. The action is almost back, and the campaign starts with a massive mood-setter at Wembley. Here’s what to look out for when treble-winners Man City face their nearest title challengers from 2022/23.

Changes in midfield for Arsenal

Granit Xhaka’s redemption arc with Arsenal proved that you should always expect the unexpected in football. After his sale to Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners will certainly miss the Swiss star’s BIG personality and tactical smartness, as well as the huge leadership role he played in the centre of the park.

Speaking of leaders though, Arsenal have snapped up Declan Rice for a reported €117m fee, so the former West Ham skipper will likely be a pivotal piece for them right from the start of his career in North London. Kai Havertz, a €75m arrival from London rivals Chelsea, is likely to be deployed in midfield too, although that’s still not 100% clear. A role as their “false 9” is also a possibility.

Youthful leaders looking to step up

Mikel Arteta will need to make a subtle shift in how his team play. Xhaka’s absence will leave a void, but it presents them with an opportunity to go up a notch in the final third of the pitch. He did score 7 league goals and provide 7 assists last season though. That output must be replaced.

Another new signing, versatile Dutchman Jurrien Timber, will provide depth at right-back and in central defence. With Takehiro Tomiyasu also back fit, there’s serious competition for Ben White’s place in the side. Arsenal fans will also be delighted that William Saliba has returned from a back problem which ruled him out of their run-in last term. The 22-year-old is already such a key part of Arteta’s system.

Not many changes at Man City

İlkay Gündoğan and Riyad Mahrez have departed to Barcelona and Al-Ahli respectively. They both had match-winning moments in their boots, in different ways, but City should have more than enough depth and players to step up to the plate.

Expect Phil Foden to play a more prominent role in the first team this season, and Jack Grealish’s form since the turn of the year makes him appear undroppable on the left-hand side of a vibrant attack. As for Erling Haaland, well, he scored 52 goals in his debut campaign in England across all competitions. How can anyone argue with that?

City’s treble win means that huge modifications to their system aren’t necessary. Mateo Kovačić arrives with his vast experience at BIG clubs, having learned his trade at Inter Milan and then gone on to become part of winning machines at Real Madrid and Chelsea.

He will likely play second fiddle to John Stones and Rodri initially, but should play a significant role as 2023/24 rumbles on. The Austrian-born Croatian has 4 Champions League winner’s medals to his name, as well as over 400 club appearances and 95 international caps, and he’s still only 29.

KDB back ahead of schedule

Speaking of majestic midfielders, Kevin De Bruyne limped off 36 minutes into the Champions League final against Inter but he’s fit again now. The Belgian dynamo was a scourge of Arsenal last season, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists against them in 2 Premier League meetings.

Likely XIs

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Aké; Rodri; Foden, Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Partey; Saka, Ødegaard, Martinelli; Jesus

Did you know?

Only Man Utd (21) have won the Community Shield more times than Arsenal, who have claimed the trophy 16 times in their history (via @Orbinho)

Whether or not the Community Shield is a major trophy could be up for debate, and it’s often a false dawn too with just 1 of the last 12 winners going on to be crowned champions. However, there’s no doubt that both sides will approach this with a level of seriousness befitting a clash between 2 of the world’s most popular football clubs.

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