Arsenal will not see the Community Shield as a friendly

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Just Arsenal News

·12 August 2026

Arsenal will not see the Community Shield as a friendly

Viktor Gyokeres is confident that Arsenal will take the Community Shield seriously when they face Manchester City in just a few days. Although the fixture is often viewed as a friendly that provides teams with an opportunity to prepare for the new season, Gyokeres believes Arsenal will be focused on winning.

As the season’s curtain-raiser, the Community Shield is sometimes considered little more than another preparation match, particularly because players may not be at their best physically when the game takes place. Arsenal could also be without some of their players who reached the World Cup semi-final, as they have only recently returned to training and are unlikely to be fully up to speed.

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Arteta Will Want to Win

Mikel Arteta is likely to approach the fixture differently, especially because he has already won the competition twice with the club. The Arsenal manager will not want his players to treat the match as another friendly, with the team aiming to carry their winning feeling from their Premier League success last term into the new campaign.

Winning the Community Shield would provide Arsenal with a positive start to the season and allow them to build momentum before their Premier League campaign begins. Gyokeres clearly believes the squad will share that ambition when they face Manchester City.

When speaking to reporters, some suggested to Gyokeres that the match was probably just another tough friendly before the season starts. The Sweden international appeared baffled by the suggestion and immediately questioned the idea.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Gyokeres Sends Clear Message

Via Talk Sport, he said: “What do you mean?”

Adding: “I don’t know what other people think, but of course we want to win that game for sure, there’s no question about that.”

Gyokeres’ response underlines the competitive attitude Arsenal intend to take into the fixture. Despite the Community Shield being used by many teams as part of their preparation, the Arsenal forward believes there is no question that the club will want to lift the trophy.

With Manchester City standing between Arsenal and another piece of silverware, the fixture should provide an early indication of the mentality Arteta’s players will carry into the new season. For Gyokeres, the objective is simple: Arsenal want to win.

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