Arsenal vs Manchester City – Community Shield preview and team news

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Arsenal vs Manchester City – Community Shield preview and team news

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff hosts the FA Community Shield on Sunday afternoon as Arsenal and Manchester City meet in a fixture that doubles as a preview of the Premier League title race to come.

It is the first time Cardiff has hosted the Community Shield since 2006. Arsenal are here as Premier League champions, having finished seven points ahead of City last season to win the title for the first time in 22 years. Manchester City qualified as FA Cup holders, beating Chelsea 1–0 at Wembley. City have lost just one of their last six meetings with Arsenal and can beat Arteta’s side three times in succession for the first time since 2023 if they win on Sunday.

Arsenal vs Manchester City – Match preview and team news​

• Date: Sunday, 16 August 2026
• Kick-off: 15:00 BST
• Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
• Referee: Sam Barrott
• Last meeting: Manchester City 2–1 Arsenal, 19 April 2026, Premier League

Arsenal team news​

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are both absent — Saliba with a back injury, Timber with a groin problem. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have returned to training after their World Cup commitments and Arteta confirmed they will be involved. Bruno Guimarães, signed from Newcastle this summer, is in line for his first Arsenal start after coming off the bench against Como in midweek. Christos Tzolis, who arrived from Club Brugge to replace Trossard, is expected to start on the left flank.

Manchester City team news​

Rodri arrived back for pre-season on Friday following back surgery and will not feature. Erling Haaland returned to training this week but is expected to start on the bench, having not played during pre-season. Savinho is a fitness doubt after missing training through illness. Maresca confirmed his remaining squad is fully fit. Omar Marmoush, who scored twice against Atletico Madrid in pre-season, is expected to lead the line.

Form​

Arsenal​

Arsenal’s summer has been built on continuity after winning the Premier League. Bruno Guimarães is the marquee arrival, signing from Newcastle to strengthen the midfield. Tzolis has replaced Leandro Trossard on the left. Saka and Rice are the last of the World Cup contingent to return, and their availability adds sharpness to an attacking unit that looked bright in pre-season without them. Arsenal beat City on penalties in the 2023 Community Shield — their only previous meeting at this stage.

Manchester City​

Maresca’s first competitive match brings genuine questions about squad depth. Rodri and Haaland are both unavailable to start, Reijnders is heading for the exit in a £51m deal and Savinho is a doubt. The pre-season was encouraging enough — wins over a K-League XI and Atletico Madrid on the back of a penalty defeat to Inter Milan — but Sunday will be the first proper test of what Maresca’s City look like without their most influential players fully fit.

Predicted lineups​

Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly; Madueke, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz

Manchester City predicted XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Kovacic, Gonzalez; Savinho, Foden, Semenyo; Marmoush

How to watch Arsenal vs Manchester City?​

The match is broadcast exclusively live in the UK on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and NOW.

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