Manchester City meet Arsenal at Wembley Stadium, London, in the 2023 FA Community Shield.
Man City qualified for this showpiece by virtue of completing a treble last season – including Premier League and FA Cup titles.
Arsenal’s second-placed league finish ensured their spot in this match, due to City having won both aforementioned competitions.
Team News
Kevin De Bruyne is set to be available for Man City despite having sat out pre-season, after he suffered a hamstring injury in their Champions League Final triumph over Inter Milan in June.
Nathan Ake (fatigue) is also expected to be in contention despite suffering some fitness issues in City’s 2-1 friendly win over Bayern Munich in late July.
Mateo Kovacic could make his competitive debut for Man City, having joined from Chelsea in June.
Arsenal will be without forward, Gabriel Jesus after he needed surgery on a minor knee issue suffered during pre-season.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Albert Sambi Lokonga (both muscle), Reiss Nelson (toe), Folarin Balogun (foot) and Bukayo Saka are doubts.
Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz will be looking to make their competitive debuts for the Gunners.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City meet Arsenal at Wembley Stadium, London in a 4pm BST kick-off on Sunday 6 August, live on ITV1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City have lost each of their two previous FA Community Shield meetings against Arsenal (L2).
- Arsenal have kept clean sheets in each of their two previous FA Community Shield ties against Man City, winning 4-0 in 1934 then 3-0 in 2014.
- City have won two of four previous FA Community Shield meetings against London based teams (W2, L2).
- Pep Guardiola Cityzens’ have failed to score first in their last two appearances in the FA Community Shield excluding penalty shootouts (D1, L1).
- Only five of Arsenal’s starting eleven for their last FA Community Shield win against Liverpool in 2020 remain at the club – Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Mohamed Elneny, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah.
Prediction
Having achieved a treble last season and done little transfer business this summer, I am intrigued as to how City will evolve this season because they can’t afford to stand still especially after losing Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez with only Mateo Kovacic signed as a midfield replacement.
Josko Gvardiol meanwhile will add extra solidness to City’s resilient defence but is unavailable here, which shouldn’t cause too much issues unless City somehow have an off-day.
Arsenal meanwhile will be disappointed with how they conceded the title last season but this is a chance to reset and gain a psychological advantage going into the league season, especially if they’re to challenge City once more for the title.
Looking in-depth at Arsenal’s squad, the midfield does feel more exciting because Rice and Jorginho should consolidate the defensive aspect, whilst Saka, Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli could be a troublesomely creative attacking midfield behind Eddie Nketiah up front.
Now if Mikel Arteta opt for that midfield line-up, I do feel like Arsenal might just have enough in them to beat Man City, especially if consider their excellent record against City in this competition which is a positive omen although their clean sheet record will surely fall.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-2 Arsenal
Result: Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal (Arsenal win 4-1 on penalties)
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