Guide to the 2026 FA Community Shield as Arsenal meet Manchester City in the first showpiece event of the 26-27 season.
Arsenal qualified for this event by winning last season’s Premier League title ahead of City, who in-turn secured their spot as FA Cup champions.
Team News
Jurrien Timber is ruled out for Arsenal after a groin injury kept him out of Netherlands’ squad at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
William Saliba will also be absent after he suffered a serious back injury in France’s semi-final defeat to eventual champions, Spain at the World Cup.
Man City could be without winger, Savinho after the Brazilian missed training this week due to illness.
Rodri is ruled out with a back injury but is heavily linked with a move to Barcelona.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal meet Man City at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, on Sunday 16 August at 3pm BST, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal are yet to lose to Man City in the Community Shield (W3), having won 4-0 in 1934 then 3-0 in 2014, and more recently 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2023.
- Man City are facing Arsenal away from London in the Community Shield for the first time, having first met at the Gunners’ Highbury Stadium in 1934 then at Wembley in their last two clashes.
- Each of the last three Community Shields have been settled on penalties, of which two shootouts came after 1-1 draws in 2023 & 24 respectively whilst Crystal Palace drew 2-2 against Liverpool last year.
- This is Arsenal’s 25th FA Community Shield appearance.
- Five of Man City’s seven Community Shield titles were won in years ending in an even digit (1968, 1972, 2012, 2018 & 2024).
Prediction
Given how much Arsenal’s defence struggled without Saliba’s presence in the past, Mikel Arteta must be slightly concerned that history is repeating itself given their defensively poor pre-season but their attack looks strong with Christos Tzolis‘ arrival and quick impact.
Man City meanwhile have their own defensive issues as they venture into the unknown following Pep Guardiola’s exit after his decade-long reign, but my biggest worry is how they cope in the central midfield without Rodri and Tijani Reijnders who are set for the exit door.
New signing, Elliot Anderson also needs time to settle so this does feel very much like a transitory season for City adapting to not just Enzo Maresca being in charge, but also dealing with evolution in their central midfield so will be interesting to see how they handle things here.
My instinct is that this could be scrappy given the various issues within both teams at present but Arsenal’s attack should be just too strong.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City
Result: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City
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