Arsenal and Manchester City battled it out for much of the last Premier League season and they meet in the first game of the new campaign in the Community Shield.
- The Draw
- Julian Alvarez to score at any time
- Matteo Kovacic to be shown a card
Draw Possible
Manchester City wore down Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table last season, winning the title by five points after the Gunners led for most of the way.
The Citizens also took home the FA Cup, meaning that this year’s Community Shield is between the second-placed league side and the treble winners.
Recent Community Shield matches have tended not to be hugely high-scoring affairs, with last year’s 3-1 win for Manchester City an exception to the rule.
Before that, the previous five editions had yielded under 2.5 goals, with three 1-1 draws in the last six seasons.
Both teams will have their eyes on bigger prizes further down the line and it is notable that despite their dominance, Manchester City have not won any of the last three Community Shields, showing they do not go all out all season long.
As a result, it may pay to side with a draw in 90 minutes, with the clash going to a penalty shootout.
Alvarez To Find The Net
Erling Haaland was the subject of much focus in last year’s Community Shield, with critics highlighting the fact that he failed to score in Manchester City’s 3-1 loss to Liverpool.
However, the Norwegian proved them wrong in the clearest fashion, breaking the Premier League record for most goals in a season, 36, on the way to winning the title with City.
Pep Guardiola’s side also have an adequate replacement or supplement to Haaland in Julian Alvarez. The Argentinian scored 17 goals in all competitions despite limited game time, including one in last season’s Community Shield and he may net again in this Wembley encounter.
Following Ilkay Gundogan’s departure, Alvarez could get more minutes on the right side of the Citizens’ forward line and he looks to have a solid chance of getting on the scoresheet against Arsenal.
Kovacic To Foul Of The referee
Mateo Kovacic was one of Manchester City’s major incomings this season, arriving in midfield from Chelsea.
The Serb is likely to play the role of Rodri in midfield, stopping counter-attacks. He picked up eight yellow cards in just 17 league starts for the Blues last season and could well fall foul of the referee against the Gunners.
Arsenal have some top counter-attacking talents and if Kovacic disrupts them too forcefully he could well end up in the book.
