Arsenal face Manchester City at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Sunday in the FA Community Shield, English football’s traditional curtain-raiser. Arsenal enter as Premier League champions after ending their title wait last season, while City arrive as FA Cup winners with Ballon d’Or holder Rodri already ruled out through injury.Ahead of the first silverware of the new season, Betfred are offering new customers the chance to use their promo code and net £50 in free bets. Simply sign up via our link, deposit £10 using a debit card, and place a £10 bet on any sports market at odds of evens or better.You don’t need a promo code to claim this offer – simply sign up through our link and the free bets will be credited automatically once your qualifying bet settles.Arsenal finally ended their long wait for the Premier League title last season, finishing seven points clear of City with one of the division’s meanest defences. Mikel Arteta has strengthened further this summer with the signings of Bruno Guimarães, Piero Hincapié and goalkeeper Illan Meslier, though pre-season form has been mixed – a 4-1 win over Girona followed by defeats to Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund.Manchester City begin the Enzo Maresca era – his first competitive game in charge since replacing Pep Guardiola – already without Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is recovering from minor surgery after a stellar World Cup with Spain. City finished second in the league last season but still won the League Cup, beating Arsenal in the final, and the FA Cup, with new arrival Elliot Anderson set to feature in a much-changed midfield.Net even more value with BetfredFollow our link to Betfred and these simple steps to claim your free bets:Register as a new customer using our link – no promo code requiredDeposit £10 or more using a debit cardPlace a single £10 bet on any sports market at odds of evens (2.0) or higherOnce your bet settles, you’ll receive £50 in free bets within 24 hours – £30 to use on any Sportsbook markets, and £20 to use on accumulators with four or more selections. All free bets expire after 7 days.A fitting boost for the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season, with the first trophy of 2026-27 up for grabs in Cardiff.Rodri’s absence to give Arsenal the edge in Maresca’s first testCity have won this exact fixture before without missing a beat under managerial change, but losing a player of Rodri’s calibre – fresh off winning the World Cup with Spain – is a significant blow this early in Maresca’s tenure. Arsenal, by contrast, go into the new season with momentum after finally getting over the line domestically, even if their pre-season form has been patchy.City also beat Arsenal in last season’s League Cup final and remain unbeaten against them in the league, drawing at the Emirates before winning at the Etihad in April, so there’s little in recent history to suggest this will be straightforward for the new champions. But with Maresca still bedding in his ideas and Rodri unavailable, Arsenal’s settled system gives them the narrow upper hand.Arsenal to winUnder 2.5 goalsRodri’s absence looks like the story of the day, leaving Maresca with a tough opening test against a confident, newly-crowned Arsenal side.If you’re looking to shop around before committing, our full list of the best football betting sites is well worth a look too.Understanding the offerTo claim this Betfred offer ahead of the new season, follow these steps:Register as a new Betfred customer ahead of Arsenal vs Manchester City (18+, UK only)No promo code is required – simply sign up through our linkDeposit a minimum of £10 using a debit card (or a debit card linked to Apple Pay or Instant Bank Transfer)Place a single £10+ bet on any sports market at odds of evens (2.0) or higher, settled within 7 days of registeringCashed-out or voided bets do not count as your qualifying betYou’ll receive:£50 in free bets, credited within 24 hours of your qualifying bet settling3 x £10 to use on any Sportsbook markets2 x £10 to use on win-only Accumulators (4+ selections)Free bets expire 7 days after being issuedKey terms and conditions of this Betfred offer Debit card deposits only (or a debit card linked to Apple Pay/Instant Bank Transfer) Qualifying bet must be at odds of evens (2.0) or higher Free bets credited within 24 hours of your qualifying bet settling Free bets expire 7 days after being issued Free bets cannot be used on Virtual Sports or Totepool One offer per customer, household, IP address or deviceAbout the authorZack LaneZack Patrick Lane is an enthusiastic sports writer and lifelong Aston Villa supporter who passionately follows the beautiful game. With a most improved player award being his highest accolade in youth football, Zack turned to writing about football rather than playing it. Today, he channels that passion into his commentary, while also keeping a keen eye on a wide range of other sports.Find Zack’s socials: X: @avfczackpatrickLinkedInCommercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply.Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukFind our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.