Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Mikel Arteta has no doubt over Arsenal’s hunger and desire to win more trophies as they target a Community Shield triumph over Manchester City.
The Gunners finally ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title last season, finishing seven points clear of City, who won the FA Cup to tee up this curtain-raiser at the Principality Stadium.
Arteta won both of his Community Shield matches as a player (2014, 2015), and has won both so far as a manager (2020, 2023), with both managerial victories coming via a penalty shoot-out.
The Arsenal boss is targeting another success, and he insisted his squad are very much on the same page, too.
“It is a trophy, it is a trophy that we can have,” Arteta said. “We won [a trophy] last year through the Premier League.
“You can tell how hungry the players are, which is a good sign.
“That is what we are going to try to do. We have a really strong opponent but we are really excited to start this season and to start with the first trophy as well.
“I sense really good energy around the players, the international players are back and we can’t wait to start competing.”
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 14, 2026
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions, winning six and drawing two (though one draw ended in a penalty shoot-out loss to PSG).
They had lost four of their six games prior to this run (W1 D1), with two of those defeats being against City.
Asked if this game would provide a marker of where Arsenal are at ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, Arteta said: “Well that is what we want, we are adapting to the circumstances and the preparation that we had.
“I said it the other day, I love the way the players have come back, most of them earlier than expected, really fit, we have done all the testing and they all seem in great condition and the moment they start to look at each other, I said look at the squad that we have and what we are building, it is a lot of excitement around them.”
While Arteta reiterated Arsenal are still aiming to bolster their squad over the coming weeks, new City boss Enzo Maresca said the challenge for his team is to close the gap on the Gunners.
“Arsenal have shown in the last two or three or four, five years, that they are always there,” he said.
“It is a fantastic team from Mikel. Last year, they won the Premier League, they showed how good they are in this moment. But at the same time, we are City and we’re going to try to close the gap and compete.”
Tzolis has been Arsenal’s big attacking signing so far, though they are still seemingly in the market for more reinforcements in that area of the pitch.
However, if the Greek turns on the style, perhaps Arteta’s priorities may shift elsewhere. He has looked bright in pre-season.
Manchester City – Elliot Anderson
With doubts remaining over Rodri’s future at City, this is the first chance Anderson could get to show he is capable of filling a potential void left by the Spain star.
Anderson led the Premier League last season for possession won (306), ground duels (430) and ground duels won (231), though his work on the ball will now be even more important as he aims to step up with City.
City have lost just one of their last 12 games in all competitions (W9 D2), though it was their final game of the 2025-26 campaign against Aston Villa (1-2).
During the period it was first used between 2001 and 2007, Arsenal played more games at the Principality Stadium than any other side (10). This will be their fifth Community Shield match at the ground, winning in 2002 (v Liverpool) and 2004 (v United) and losing in 2003 (v Manchester United) and 2005 (v Chelsea).
Arsenal have won all three of their Community Shield matches against City, beating them 4-0 in 1934, 3-0 in 2014 and 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2023.
The last 10 occasions the Community Shield match has been between the league champions and the FA Cup winners, the FA Cup holders have won eight times. The exceptions were both City, beating Chelsea in 2018 and Man Utd in 2024.
City won their last appearance in the Community Shield, beating Man Utd on penalties in 2024. However, they have been runners-up in the match nine times, with only Man Utd doing so more (10).
Only Man Utd (21) have won the Community Shield more often than Arsenal (17, including shared), with the Gunners winning each of their last five.
Arsenal have also won all three matches when reigning Premier League champions (1998, 2002, 2004).
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