Arsenal won their first Premier League title since 2004 last season
Manchester City have won the Community Shield on seven occasions
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Arsenal begin the campaign as defending Premier League champions and are the favourites to come out on top once again.
Manchester City, second in the outright betting, are under new management for the first time in 10 years as Enzo Maresca takes over from Pep Guardiola, but will it be a smooth transition?
This season's Community Shield, which is being held at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, might turn out to be a more important insight into the season ahead than in previous years, given the circumstances around those clubs hoping to dethrone the champions.
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Team news
Arsenal will be without William Saliba and Jurrien Timber due to back and groin injuries respectively, with the former not expected to return to action for a few months.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka will not likely start due to their exertions at the World Cup, opening the door for other players to make their mark, with new signing Bruno Guimaraes one of those pushing for a starting place.
Maresca will not be able to call on Rodri, who underwent surgery on his back following the World Cup, while Elliott Anderson, who completed his £116m move in July, will likely start on the bench.
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The stats
Arsenal have lifted the Community Shield on 17 occasions, last triumphing in 2023, while it was in 2005 when they were last beaten.
Manchester City have won this trophy seven times, with their last success coming in 2024.
The Principality Stadium held this match on six occasions between 2001 and 2006 and Arsenal triumphed in both 2002 and 2004.
The Gunners have defeated City to win the Community Shield on three previous occasions (1934, 2014 and 2023) and have never lost to the Citizens in this match.
Six of the last seven Community Shield matches have seen both teams scoring, and in the last three appearances of both Arsenal and City, both teams have found the back of the net.
Five of the last nine Community Shield games have finished with a 1-1 scoreline.
Christos Tzolis has registered two assists and scored one goal in four pre-season games for Arsenal.
In the Belgian Pro League last season, the Greek winger recorded 40 goal contributions — 17 goals and 23 assists — in 36 matches.
The latest Arsenal vs Manchester City odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
The Gunners enter this clash against City in buoyant mood having finally ended their Premier League title drought last term.
Given the fact Maresca steps into Guardiola’s shoes at the Etihad, there is no guarantee City will be the force they were under the Spaniard.
As such, Arteta could be on the cusp of a special era, one filled with success over the coming years, and a victory at the Principality would signal a massive statement of intent going into the new season.
Given the glut of draws in this game, that victory may not come about in 90 minutes, but one of the Gunners' new signings, Tzolis, can build on the momentum he has gained in pre-season with a goal involvement to help Arsenal claim the trophy.
Score prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Man City (Arsenal to win on penalties)
