Who: Arsenal vs Manchester City What: English Community Shield Where: Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom When: Sunday, August 16 at 3pm ( ) How to follow: You can join the Al Jazeera Sport build-up from before our text commentary stream. Premier League champions Arsenal face FA Cup holders City in one of the most highly anticipated Community Shield encounters in recent memory. The traditional opener of the English top-flight season is always a chance for early bragging rights among likely title contenders for the campaign ahead.
This season’s match, which will be played in Cardiff due to the unavailability of Wembley in London, will see Enzo Maresca take control of City in a competitive game for the first time since he replaced Pep Guardiola as manager. As for Arsenal, their 22-year wait for a Premier League title has not been seen as the start of another golden era for the Gunners; instead, there are questions as to just how strong the defence of the crown will be. Al Jazeera takes a closer look at the match.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has backed Maresca to do an “unbelievable job” after replacing Guardiola. Arteta, once Guardiola’s assistant at City, paid tribute to his old boss but expects Arsenal’s title rivals to remain a force under former Chelsea manager Maresca. Arteta said of Guardiola, who won 20 major trophies during his 10-year spell in charge of City: “First of all for the Premier League, and for the country, the way he has opened a different way of understanding the game – he has escalated the Premier League to a different level.
It’s remarkable and unique,” Arteta continued. For many reasons; he’s done it in different countries, in different ways.” City won the FA Cup and League Cup in Guardiola’s final season but finished as Premier League runners-up behind Arsenal. Arteta, who ended Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a Premier League title, added: “It’s been a pleasure and now it’s Enzo.
I know him well and he will provide something different to the club. City manager Maresca, meanwhile, said “anything can happen” amid reports La Liga champions Barcelona have bid to sign World Cup winner Rodri. City are understood to have rejected an opening bid of 38.5 million pounds ($52m) from Barcelona for the midfielder.
The 30-year-old has just one season remaining on his deal at the Etihad and has been strongly linked with a return to his native Spain. City are reported to want nearly double the opening offer for Rodri, who was named player of the tournament at the recent World Cup in North America. Barcelona could now come back with an increased offer for Rodri, which in turn may lead to a City move for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
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