Arsenal begin the 2023/24 campaign with a meeting against treble championsManchester Cityin the Community Shield on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners have a dire recent record againstCity, winning just once since Pep Guardiola took charge in the summer of 2016. However, Mikel Arteta’s side can take confidence from their superb record at Wembley Stadium.
Across their previous 15 trips to the so-called home of football,Arsenalhave lost just twice – although, one of those defeats was againstCityin the 2018 League Cup final.
Arsenal predicted lineup vsMan City(4-3-3)
Declan Rice could make his competitive debut forArsenalon Sunday / Visionhaus/GettyImages
GK: Aaron Ramsdale -Ahead of hisArsenaldebut, Ramsdale admitted to thinking: “God, I hope they don’t boo me.” Whatever the England international produces on Sunday, he is unlikely to get any negative treatment from his own fɑɴȿ.
RB: Ben White -During his loan spell at Newport County, White’s pre-match meal often consisted of a curry. It’s unlikely he’d be able to sneak a chicken korma pastArsenal’s dieticians (although it is a source of protein).
CB: William Saliba -The commanding centre-back has not featured in a competitive setting forArsenalsince injuring his back against Sporting CP in March.
CB: Gabriel Magalhaes -While Saliba struggled with his fitness, Gabriel was a near ever-present, missing a grand total of 19 Premier League minutes all season.
LB: Jurrien Timber -With Oleksandr Zinchenko still nursing a calf problem, theAjax arrivalcould be handed his debut in an unnatural left-back position.
CM: Martin Odegaard -As a child prodigy, Odegaard “would literally sit down and read the newspapers” to find out everything that was being written about him, he recalled. If that habit has persisted into adulthood, recent ɾєρօɾτs will be glowing.
CM: Declan Rice -Arsenal’srecord arrivalwas briefly the subject of a bidding war between the Gunners andManchester Citythis summer. Ultimately, Arteta was willing to sanction a nine-digit bid which proved too rich for Guardiola.
CM: Kai Havertz -In August 2021, Havertz explained: “More or less, I’m a midfield player but I like to go into the box.” After three mixed and middling seasons at Chelsea, his best position is still uncertain.
RW: Bukayo Saka -Despite scoring two goals againstCity- including a penalty last year – Saka has lost all nine of his meetings with Guardiola’s side.
ST: Eddie Nketiah -Gabriel Jesus’ familiar understudy only scored four goals while filling in for the striker last season before getting injured himself.
