Arsenal and Manchester City contest the first silverware of the new English season on Sunday as the Premier League champions face the FA Cup holders in the Community Shield at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

It is a repeat of the 2023 curtain-raiser, when Arsenal defeated City on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley. Much has changed since then, not least in the Manchester City dugout, where Enzo Maresca has replaced Pep Guardiola and is preparing for his first competitive match in charge.

Neither side will be at full strength following the World Cup and a disrupted pre-season, but another close contest between two of English football’s strongest teams is expected.

Arsenal return to Cardiff in pursuit of an 18th Community Shield

The Millennium Stadium has provided Arsenal with one of their most memorable penalty-shootout successes, with Patrick Vieira converting the winning spot kick against Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup final.

Twenty-one years later, Arsenal return as Premier League champions and with penalties once again becoming something of a theme.

Mikel Arteta’s side have experienced an inconsistent pre-season, winning only one of their four official friendlies and failing to win any of their final three in 90 minutes. However, they defeated both Borussia Dortmund and Como in shootouts at the Emirates, with David Raya saving two penalties in the latter.

Arsenal also won their two most recent Community Shields from the spot, beating Liverpool in 2020 before overcoming Manchester City three years later. Another victory on Sunday would give them an 18th Community Shield and move them closer to Manchester United’s competition record.

Arteta has several selection issues to negotiate. William Saliba remains sidelined with a back injury, while Jurrien Timber is unavailable because of a groin problem.

The players who went deep into the World Cup have now returned, but Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Martín Zubimendi have yet to play any pre-season football and are unlikely to start.

Summer signing Bruno Guimarães is in a stronger position to make his full debut after appearing from the bench against Como, while Raya should return in goal after Kepa Arrizabalaga started the final friendly.

Maresca begins his Manchester City reign

Manchester City arrive in Cardiff as FA Cup winners and with Maresca preparing to take charge of his first competitive fixture since succeeding Guardiola.

City’s pre-season has produced encouraging signs. After a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan that ended in a penalty-shootout defeat, they recorded successive 3-1 victories over a K-League XI and Atlético Madrid.

Omar Marmoush scored twice against Atlético and could retain his place at the head of the attack, particularly with Erling Haaland only recently returning to training following Norway’s World Cup campaign.

Haaland is therefore unlikely to start, although City will certainly not be short of attacking options. They can also draw confidence from their recent record against Arsenal, having lost only one of the last six meetings and beaten the Gunners 2-1 at the Etihad in April.

Maresca nevertheless has some important decisions to make in midfield. Rodri remains unavailable following back surgery, while Tijjani Reijnders is closing in on a move to the Saudi Pro League. Nico González and Mateo Kovačić could therefore form the central partnership, with new signing Elliot Anderson unlikely to be ready for a starting role.

Savinho is another doubt after missing training through illness.

City are seeking their eighth Community Shield and their second in three years, having beaten Manchester United on penalties in the 2024 edition.

Verdict

Neither manager is able to select his strongest team, and the number of key players returning late from the World Cup adds another layer of uncertainty to the traditional curtain-raiser.

City have enjoyed the more convincing pre-season and possess enough attacking depth to trouble an Arsenal defence missing Saliba and Timber. Arsenal, however, have repeatedly shown how difficult they are to separate from City and have already gained valuable shootout practice this summer.

With the Community Shield going directly to penalties if the scores are level after 90 minutes, another draw followed by a shootout looks a realistic outcome. Arsenal have already won twice from the spot during pre-season, and they can repeat their 2023 success against City.

Tip

Draw after 90 minutes.