Arsenal XI vs Man City: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Community Shield today | OneFootball

Bruno Guimaraes likely to start as Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka return

Arsenal are set to hand Bruno Guimaraes his first start in today’s Community Shield showdown with Manchester City.

The Gunners’ new £75million signing from Newcastle is likely to be promoted to Mikel Arteta’s first XI in Cardiff this afternoon after initially coming off the bench in the midweek friendly draw with Como to make his debut.

Arsenal are also set to be boosted by the key returns of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi to their squad to face City.

None of the trio have played a single minute in pre-season so far after only resuming training at the start of the week in the aftermath of extended breaks following the World Cup.

However, they have stepped up their work at London Colney in recent days and are set to be involved against City, barring any unforeseen setbacks.

“They will be available,” Arteta said of Saka, Rice and Zubimendi at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “They trained with us today, they will train tomorrow.

“If they are in the condition we expect them to be, they will be involved.”

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

Jurrien Timber and William Saliba both remain unavailable due to injury, so Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera are in line to start on the right of defence, alongside Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori.

New £34m arrival 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 Galatasaray.

Up front, Kai Havertz is often Arteta's preferred choice in Arsenal's biggest games and should start over Viktor Gyokeres, while David Raya will be in goal after returning to play the second half against Como on Wednesday.

Martin Odegaard should start and captain Arsenal, with 16-year-old Max Dowman potentially getting another chance to impress from the off.

Injured: Saliba, Timber