The new season doesn't officially start until 21 August, but Sunday gives us the traditional early look at both title contenders when champions Arsenal face FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. It's often written off as a glorified friendly, but with these two clubs' recent history, don't expect either side to treat it that way.
Team News
Arsenal go into the game as Premier League champions for the first time since 2003/04, with the core of their title-winning squad intact and Bruno Guimarães added to the midfield over the summer — a signing that could be significant for a side looking to control games the way they did for most of last season. Mikel Arteta's men also reached last season's Champions League final, so there's real pedigree in this squad heading into the new campaign.
Manchester City arrive under new manager Enzo Maresca, who inherits a club still adjusting to life without Pep Guardiola for the first time in a decade. City are dealing with a fresh injury concern too — Matheus Nunes went off injured in the warm-up before a recent friendly, leaving Abdukodir Khusanov as the likely option at right-back. The defence has looked unsettled in pre-season more broadly, with Josko Gvardiol shuffled between centre-back and left-back through the summer.
Form Guide
Both sides have had mixed pre-seasons, which is typical in a World Cup year with squads returning late and undercooked. Arsenal's warm-up results included wins over MK Dons and Girona, a defeat to Real Betis, and a penalty-shootout win over Como. City picked up wins over Atlético Madrid and a K-League select side, but also lost on penalties to Inter Milan.
A few stats worth knowing before kickoff: Arsenal have scored the first goal in each of their last eight competitive fixtures, and five of their last seven wins in all competitions have come by a narrow 1-0 scoreline — a pattern that fits Arteta's defence-first approach. At the other end, only one of Manchester City's last ten matches has produced more than 3.5 goals, suggesting neither side is likely to be involved in a shootout on Sunday.
Head-to-Head
This fixture carries some history. Arsenal beat City on penalties in the 2023 Community Shield after a difficult title run-in the previous season, and the two sides have shared several tight, tactical battles since — including a City win in this year's EFL Cup final. It's worth noting Maresca himself faced Arteta three times while managing Chelsea last season without a win, picking up two draws and a defeat — a small psychological edge for the Arsenal camp heading into his first competitive test as City boss.
Community Shield matches themselves have a habit of finishing level after 90 minutes — five of the last nine were drawn 1-1 before being decided on penalties — which is worth factoring into how you approach the 90-minute result market specifically.
Odds
The market is close to a genuine coin flip. Arsenal and Manchester City are priced within a few points of each other across most sportsbooks, with the draw also very much live given how tight recent meetings between these two have been. Given the stats above — Arsenal's habit of low-scoring wins and City's quiet away form in front of goal — the under 2.5 goals market and a 1-0-shaped scoreline both look like they carry value, alongside the traditional outright markets. Check JSB Sports for live, up-to-the-minute pricing on match result, both teams to score, and the correct score market ahead of kickoff.
Our Prediction
Arsenal's continuity — same manager, same core squad, no summer disruption at the top of the club — is the difference-maker here. City have the individual quality to win any given match, but a new manager and an unsettled defence in the middle of pre-season is a lot to ask to get right on day one of the season. We're leaning toward Arsenal, likely by a narrow, low-scoring margin.
For the full picture on both clubs' title chances this season, read our EPL 2026/27 Season Preview, and for live outright odds throughout the campaign, check our Premier League Winner Odds hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Community Shield and where is it being played?
The Community Shield is on Sunday, 16 August 2026, at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, kicking off at 3pm UK time.
Who is playing in the 2026 Community Shield?
Premier League champions Arsenal face FA Cup winners Manchester City in the traditional season curtain-raiser.
What happens if the Community Shield ends in a draw?
If the match is level after 90 minutes, the Community Shield is decided by a penalty shootout — there's no extra time.
Is Manchester City's Matheus Nunes fit for the Community Shield?
Nunes picked up an injury in the warm-up before a recent friendly and is a doubt, with Abdukodir Khusanov the likely option at right-back if he doesn't recover in time.