🕟 Kick Off: 15:00 BST 🏟️ Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff 📺 UK Broadcaster: TNT Sports 🙎🏻♂️ Referee: Samuel Barrott 📹 VAR: James Bell 🔴 Arsenal Team News: Jurriën Timber (Fitness): Ruled Out. Returned to on-pitch training however still weeks away from a return. William Saliba: Long term injury. Saliba is taking an extended break from football to heal his back without the need for surgery. ⚽ Arsenal Form: 🟧🟥🟥🟩🟧 🛢️ Man City Team News: Rodri: Misses the game with a back injury. ⚽ Man City Form: 🟩🟩🟧🟥🟧 ⚔️ Head-to-Head: Manchester City 2–1 Arsenal (Apr 19, 2026, Premier League) Arsenal 0–2 Manchester City (Mar 22, 2026, EFL Cup Final) Arsenal 1–1 Manchester City (Sep 21, 2025, Premier League) Arsenal 5–1 Manchester City (Feb 2, 2025, Premier League) Manchester City 2–2 Arsenal (Sep 22, 2024, Premier League) 📖 Match Facts: Arteta and Maresca have faced of 3 times as managers, with Arteta's side winning once and drawing twice. We have never lost to a Maresca side. Arsenal have faced Manchester City 3 times in the Community Shield, winning all three. Arsenal have not played at Principality Stadium since the 18/19 Premier League season, where they beat Cardiff 2-3 with goals from Mustafi, Aubameyang, and Lacazette. 📸 Previously in the Community Shield... The same fixture took place in 2023 at Wembley which saw Arsenal beat Man City on penalties. I was there with my brother that day, Wembley is always a fun day out (until you have to leave and spend ages waiting in Wembley Way). Leandro Trossard scored in the 90+11th minute with a heavy deflection into the back of Stefan Ortega's net, taking the game to penalties. Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri both missed their penalties, and Fabio Vieira scored the winning penalty to win Arsenal their 17th Community Shield. LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Gabriel of Arsenal lifts the FA Community Shield Trophy following the team's victory in the penalty shootout during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates after The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) ✍🏼 Pre-Match Ramblings Here we go again! Arsenal kick off their 26/27 season in a blockbuster matchup against recent rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield in Cardiff, away from the usual venue of Wembley. City fans (all 12 of them) often cry online about not selling out Wembley, claiming that if it were closer to home they would sell it out easily. Anyway, the Principality will be made up of about 3/4s Arsenal, 1/4 City. City didn't sell out their allocation and Arsenal's allocation went to Red members. Interesting one to think about. Ezno Maresca will take charge of his first competitive game as Man City Head Coach after 2 wins and a draw in pre-season, a better return than that of our pre-season which has consisted of some pretty turgid football. As always, you can't read too much into pre-season results. It was only last summer when Thomas Frank's Spurs side beat us, and we all know how that season ended up going. Both City and Arsenal have a shiny new midfielder to look forward to playing with heading in to this game. The record breaking Elliot Anderson has yet to see any minutes for City, whereas Bruno G saw action against Como midweek. Man City will be without World Cup winner Rodri who is recovering from a back injury, and also courting a move to Spain. I, for one, will not miss Rodri in the Premier League. He's just too good I'm afraid. City will be weaker without him. I rate Anderson, but Rodri will leave behind huge shoes and I'm not sure that the incoming Englishman will fill them right away. Arsenal still have work to do before the transfer window closes on the 1st of September. Most notable in the left side of attack. Martinelli's camp have shut down any possibility of him going to Turkey, which you can't blame him for being only 25. As good as Tzolis has been in pre-season, I can't help but think that not signing a marquee left winger will be doing him a disservice, and setting him up for failure. He very well may be a fantastic player, but we don't know that. Martinelli scored 1 goal last season (against City actually), so upgrading on him shouldn't be difficult, but it seems like it is next to impossible in this market. Anyway, that's enough rambling. I will end by reminding you all of the golden rule of the Community Shield: if we win, it's a major trophy and a huge accomplishment. If we lose, it's a glorified pre-season friendly. https://anditsarsenal.com/2026/08/14/arsenal-vs-manchester-city-16th-august-2026-fa-community-shield-match-preview/   submitted by   /u/Mahoganychicken [link]   [comments]