Arsenal vs Manchester City predictions: Gunners could upset treble winners at Wembley
- Arsenal have appeared in the Community Shield on 23 occasions, winning 16 times
- Man City scored only 34 of their 94 league goals away from the Etihad Stadium last term
- Recommended bet: Arsenal to win
Just over two months after winning the FA Cup final — the second leg of a glorious treble — Manchester City are back at Wembley for a Community Shield clash with Premier League runners-up Arsenal.
The Gunners led the way in the title race for most of last season before being overhauled by City, who claimed their fifth title in six seasons and went on to beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Arsenal have strengthened their squad with the summer signings of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber so manager Mikel Arteta will be keen to gain a morale-boosting victory over the mighty Citizens on Sunday.
Team news
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus will miss the first few weeks of the season due to a knee problem.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) may not be risked against his former club and Mohamed Elneny and Reiss Nelson are injured.
Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring) is still working his way back to full fitness.
Josko Gvardiol's move from RB Leipzig is unlikely to be completed in time for him to feature and fellow defender Nathan Ake is a doubt.
The stats
Arsenal have appeared in the Community Shield on 23 occasions, winning 16 times.
Three of the last six Community Shield matches have ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
The Gunners were leading at half-time in seven of their last eight Premier League victories.
Four of the last five meetings between these clubs have had over 2.5 goals.
Manchester City have won their last eight games against Arsenal in all competitions.
The Citizens scored only 34 of their 94 league goals away from the Etihad Stadium last term.
Prediction
One of Pep Guardiola's great skills is ensuring that his Manchester City side peak at the business end of the season and they chased down Arsenal in relentless fashion in the second half of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.
The Community Shield rarely brings out the best in slow-starting City, who have lost to Leicester and Liverpool in this fixture in the last two years, and they could be vulnerable against the Gunners on Sunday.
A lack of squad depth hampered Arsenal's title bid last term but they have shown plenty of ambition in the transfer market and key attacking players Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are still improving.
City did most of their best work last season at home – they scored only four goals in their last six Champions League fixtures away from the Etihad – and Arsenal have the talent to take advantage if the treble winners are not at their sharpest.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
