It’s the annual English football curtain-raiser as the Premier League champions take on the FA Cup winners for the first piece of silverware of the season.
It will also be Enzo Maresca’s first ‘official’ game in charge of City.
WHEN AND WHERE
The Blues take on the Gunners at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday 16 August.
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Kick-off is set for 15:00 (UK), with the match to be broadcast live on TNT Sports.
All the key moments can also be followed on the Official Man City App and mancity.com via our Matchday Centre and our official social media channels: @ManCity.
MARESCA PRESS CONFERENCE
Enzo Maresca has emphasised the importance of Sunday’s FA Community Shield final with Arsenal, describing the clash as a first opportunity for silverware during his tenure.
The Italian will lead the team for the first time in a competitive setting this weekend at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with kick-off set for 15:00 (UK).
A meeting between the FA Cup holders and Premier League champions and a precursor to the new campaign, Maresca was quick to dismiss suggestions of this tie being seen as a final pre-season fixture before our Premier League opener against Bournemouth next Sunday.
Instead, for the boss, it’s a chance to kickstart his time in the hotseat with a piece of silverware.
“For me personally it is a trophy,” Maresca explained in his pre-match press conference.
“When trophies and a final are there, you always try to win the game.
“So, no friendly game at all. It’s a trophy that we are going to try our best to win, to win the first trophy.”
TEAM NEWS
Elliot Anderson will make his debut for City against Arsenal in the Community Shield this afternoon.
Anderson joined the Blues from Nottingham Forest this summer.
And, after commencing pre-season training with his new club this past week following an impressive World Cup with England, the combative midfielder is straight in from the start here in Cardiff.
FA Cup winners City face Premier League champions Arsenal at the Principality Stadium, kick-off 15:00 (UK).
In total, there are five changes - Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku, Nico O’Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov also in from the start.
Matheus Nunes and Omar Marmoush drop to the bench with Vitor Reis, Tijjani Reijnders and Savinho not involved.
Rúben Dias skippers the team.
ARSENAL XI: Raya, White, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Guimaraes, Odegaard (C), Madueke, Tzolis, Havertz
Subs: Kepa, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Rice, Eze, Dowman, Saka, Gyokeres
CITY XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias (C), Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Kovačić, Anderson, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Rulli, Guéhi, Marmoush, Cherki, Nico, Grealish, Aït-Nouri, Nunes, Lewis
MAN CITY APP COVERAGE
As always, the Official Man City App will have all the match coverage you need from wherever you are in the world.
From two hours before kick-off to all the post-match reaction, our Matchday Centre will provide blow-by-blow updates and analysis.
For those with push notifications turned on in the app, you’ll be alerted to the key moments throughout the game as they happen, with our CITY+ commentary from Alistair Mann and Michael Brown will begin once the game gets under way.
Shortly after the full-time whistle, a comprehensive match report as well as reaction from Enzo Maresca and the players can also be viewed on our website and app.
A CITY+ full-match replay and extended highlights will be available from midnight while a brief highlights option will appear after full-time.
For more information on how to subscribe to CITY+, click here.
MATCHDAY LIVE
As always, we will have an action-packed Matchday Live show to provide you with City-centric analysis before, during and after the game.
The presenters will be Natalie Pike and FG, with Steph Houghton and Michael Brown our studio guests.
OPPOSING MANAGER
Mikel Arteta oversaw three matches against City last season, drawing one and losing twice.
The Spaniard went on to guide Arsenal to a first Premier League title for 22 years.
Arteta has been Arsenal boss since 2019 after leaving his coaching role at Manchester City.
PREVIOUS MEETING
The teams last met in March 2026, with City securing a 2-1 Premier League victory over the Gunners at the Etihad.
Rayan Cherki put the Blues ahead on 16 minutes with a delightful solo goal, only for Kai Havertz to score a bizarre equaliser two minutes later as he charged down a Gianluigi Donnarumma clearance.
Erling Haaland scored what proved to be the winning goal on 66 minutes, turning home Nico O’Reilly’s pass to seal three points.
That win came just three weeks after City beat Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.
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Premier League 2026/27 home tickets now on sale
General admission tickets for Manchester City’s home 2026/27 Premier League fixtures are on sale to Premium, Matchday and Junior Members.
Season Ticket Members, meanwhile, are now also able to purchase additional tickets for selected games.
Premier League match-by-match ticket prices for junior and adult Matchday Members have been retained at the same rate for a third consecutive season.
It promises to be another thrilling campaign for the Blues as we enter a new era under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, who takes over from Pep Guardiola in the hotseat.
Make sure you secure your spot at the Etihad Stadium for our Premier League fixtures now!
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