Arsenal XI vs Man City: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Community Shield | OneFootball

Gunners handed triple fitness boost for season curtain-raiser

Bruno Guimaraes is in line to make his first Arsenal start against Manchester City in the Community Shield.

The Brazilian featured off the bench in the Gunners' final pre-season match against Como in midweek and could now come into the starting lineup in Cardiff.

Arsenal are set to be boosted by the return of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi to the squad.

The trio have not played a single minute in pre-season after only resuming training at the start of the week. They were given an extended break following the World Cup.

However, they have stepped up their work at the training ground in recent days and are set to be involved against City.

“They will be available,” Arteta said at his pre-match conference.

Arsenal are expected to be cautious with their workload, meaning Guimaraes appears likely to line up alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly, who started every pre-season match.

Jurrien Timber and William Saliba remain unavailable, so Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera are in line to start on the right of defence.

Christos Tzolis has been one of Arsenal's most impressive players this summer and will hope to get the nod over Gabriel Martinelli, who continues to be linked with a move to Turkey.

Up front, Kai Havertz is often Arteta's preferred choice in Arsenal's biggest games.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly; Dowman, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz

Injured: Saliba, Timber