Arsenal vs Manchester City LIVE: Champions clash in season-opening Community Shield | OneFootball

Arsenal take on Man City in the Community Shield (Reuters)

Premier League champions Arsenal take on FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield in the traditional curtain-raiser to the Premier League season.

This year’s edition takes place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, relocated from its usual home at Wembley due to a series of concerts by The Weeknd at the London venue.

Arsenal won their first league title for 22 years when they finished top of the pile in May, seven points clear of Pep Guardiola’s City, and Mikel Arteta will hope to pick up where they left off as they bid to defend their crown.

City, who beat Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final, begin a new era under Enzo Maresca after a decade of success led by Guardiola – although the club begin the new season with the threat of possible sanctions still hanging over them.

Arsenal vs Man City LIVE

Arsenal v Man City prediction

Here’s The Independent’s Chief Sports Writer, Lawrence Ostlere, giving his predition for today’s match:

Mike Jones16 August 2026 12:36

Predicted teams for Community Shield

With both teams unlikely to start a few of their key players for this Community Shield Clash here’s how we see the two teams lining up today:

Predicted Arsenal XI: Kepa; White, Salmon, Gabriel, Hincapie; Bruno Guimaraes, Odegaard, Eze; Dowman, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Predicted Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Ait-Nouri, Gvardiola, Dias, Nunes; Kovacic, Gonzalez; Semenyo, Foden, Echeverri; Marmoush.

Mike Jones16 August 2026 12:30

Man City's early team news

Manchester City are without Rodri, who underwent minor back surgery at the end of July after captaining Spain to World Cup glory. Abdukodir Khusanov missed the recent friendly against Atletico Madrid for personal reasons.

For City, Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, new signing Elliot Anderson, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku have only recently returned to training and are unlikely to start the game.

Erling Haaland may not start for Man City today (PA Wire)

Mike Jones16 August 2026 12:24

Arsenal's early team news

The Gunners will start the new campaign without key centre-back William Saliba after the France international suffered a back injury during the World Cup. Jurrien Timber is also injured and his return is “weeks away”, according to Arteta.

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino, David Raya and Martin Zubimendi are unlikely to start with only a few days’ training under their belts.

Declan Rice may not start for Arsenal having only recently returned to training (PA Archive)

Mike Jones16 August 2026 12:18

Arsenal v Man City

Premier League champions Arsenal take on FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.

The curtain-raiser to the Premier League season takes place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, relocated from its usual home at Wembley due to a series of concerts by The Weeknd at the London venue.

Arsenal won their first league title for 22 years when they finished top of the pile in May, seven points clear of Pep Guardiola’s City, and Mikel Arteta will hope to pick up where they left off as they bid to defend their crown.

City, who beat Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final, begin a new era under Enzo Maresca after a decade of success led by Guardiola – although the club begin the new season with the threat of possible sanctions still hanging over them.

Good afternoon!

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Community Shield action.

The new season has begun in the EFL but Premier League clubs, Arsenal and Manchester City get their first taste of competitive football when they come face-top-face at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Enzo Maresca has replaced Pep Guardiola as City’s boss and there’s been reinforcements for both clubs so today’s outing will give us a feel for how they’re shaping up ahead of the start of the season.