Rice and Saka cleared for Community Shield as Arsenal face Man City; Zubimendi in contention

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are available for this weekend’s Community Shield clash against Manchester City.

Arsenal face Manchester City at thePrincipality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday, as the Premier League champions take on the FA Cup holders for the first silverware of the season.

The North Londoners saw several squad members reach the latter stages of the2026 World Cup this summer, with a number of key figures reporting back late for pre-season.

However, Arteta told his pre-match press conference that England duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are available to face Manchester City, with Martin Zubimendi also in contention.

“Yeah they [Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Martin Zubimendi] will be available, they trained with us today. They will train tomorrow and if they are in a condition we expect them to be, they will be involved.”

Arsenal are pursuing a defensive signing before the end of the transfer window, amid concerns over Jurrien Timber and William Saliba.

The Gunners have made approaches for Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah as Arteta seek versatile cover for his side. He provided an update on Timber and Saliba, confirming the latter is set for an extender period on the sidelines with a back issue.

“Jurrien [Timber] is progressing really well. He is on the pitch, we are ramping up now, the volume and the load. I think he is in a good trajectory but there is still a few weeks to go.”

“William [Saliba] as we know, is a more long-term injury.”