Arsenal and Manchester City kick off the new season on Sunday with the traditional curtain raiser that is the Community Shield, so let’s take a look at the latest team news.
The Gunners have had a good pre-season but have not hit top gear with new signings still settling in. That will be something to watch out for at Wembley as they get ready to take on the treble winning juggernauts.
The big injury worry for Mikel Arteta is that of Gabriel Jesus who has had some work done on his knees. It is expected to keep him out of action for a few weeks. The Brazilian will be replaced by either Eddie Nketiah or Leandro Trossard.
Bukayo Saka recovered from sickness and will be available. Another player that may not play any part in this game is Alex Zinchenko who is recovering from an injury. The player has returned to training but IS unlikely to play any part.
Arsenal Fever View:
For Arteta, this is a chance to show that he has learned from last season’s mistakes against City. Winning this encounter would send a message to their rivals that the north Londoners mean business and are in the hunt for trophies.
Bolstered by some astute signings, the Gunners will be keen to put on a good show and potentially win their first trophy in their first game this season. Doing so will be tough given the quality on the other side.
It is a chance for the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz to prove that they are worth the big bucks the club shelled for them. For the latter, not only is he adapting to a new club, it is a new role as well. But if these two can shine, it significantly increases the chances of the London club pulling off the win.
Arsenal have a long season ahead of them but starting on the right note can be a huge boost. It will also give the manager a chance to win another trophy, something that the club has not been able to do for some time now. It promises to be an interesting encounter on Sunday with two tactical masterminds trying to get one over the other.
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