Goal for Arsenal

1' Riccardo Calafiori receives a brilliant pass inside the box and scores to give the Gunners the lead

The match kicks off in Cardiff

Arsenal and Manchester City face off for the first title of the season

Maresca's starting XI

Arsenal's lineup

English soccer officially gets underway Sunday with the Community Shield, as Premier League champion Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, takes on FA Cup winner Manchester City, which begins a new era without Pep Guardiola on the sidelines.

The match will be played at Principality Stadium in Cardiff at 4:00 p.m. CET, which is 10:00 a.m. ET in the United States.

The balance of power has shifted heading into the new English season. Arsenal has reclaimed a place at the top after years in which Manchester City largely dominated the domestic landscape. Arteta guided the Gunners back to the Premier League title and also led them to a runner-up finish in the Champions League.

After ending a 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions, Arsenal begins another campaign with a well-established core, although both teams enter their first competitive match still working toward peak form.

Arsenal targets another Community Shield trophy

Arsenal heads into the Community Shield with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice remaining key figures in the squad, while Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis are among the club's major additions.

During preseason, the Gunners recorded a big win over Girona but suffered defeats against Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund. They closed their preparations with a draw against Como before winning the ensuing penalty shootout.

“It’s going to be a very demanding match. City always find a way to compete and they have top-level players. We have to be at our best if we want to win the trophy,” Arteta said.

The Arsenal manager also praised Guardiola, his former boss at Manchester City.

“For me, he is the best coach in the history of soccer,” Arteta said.

Manchester City begins the Enzo Maresca era

On the opposite sideline will be Enzo Maresca, Manchester City's new manager following Guardiola's departure.

The Sky Blues enter the Community Shield unbeaten in preseason, including draws against Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid.

Maresca made it clear that despite the timing of the match before the Premier League season, he views the Community Shield as a trophy his team must try to win.

“For me, personally, it is a title,” Maresca said. “When there is a title and a final at stake, you always try to win the game.”

“So, there is nothing friendly about it. It is a trophy and we are going to do everything possible to win it and get our first title,” the Italian added.

Arsenal vs Manchester City: Recent head-to-head record

Recent meetings favor Manchester City. Last season, City defeated Arsenal in the League Cup and also won their most recent Premier League meeting.

Across the last five matches in all competitions, Manchester City has three wins, Arsenal has one and the teams have drawn once.

However, the Gunners have a favorable memory from their most recent Community Shield meeting. The last time Arsenal and Manchester City faced each other in this competition, in 2023, Arsenal lifted the trophy.

What time is Arsenal vs Manchester City in the Community Shield?

The match will be played Sunday in Cardiff:

Arsenal vs Manchester City
📅 Sunday, August 16
⏰ 4:00 p.m. CET | 10:00 a.m. ET
📍 Principality Stadium, Cardiff
🏆 2026 Community Shield

Projected lineups

Arsenal: Kepa Arrizabalaga; Ben White, Cristián Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Martin Odegaard, Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly; Dowman, Tzolis and Gyoekeres.

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Gvardiol, Ait Nuri; Kovacevic, Nico González; Semenyo, Foden, Doku; Omar Marmoush.

Referee: Sam Barrott.

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