Arsenal vs Manchester City prediction 16.08.2026 | FA Community Shield

Last season, Arsenal finally won the Premier League title, their first since 2004. Also, Mikel Arteta played in the Champions League final, but they lost to PSG. The Gunners are once again among the leading contenders in both competitions this season and will be hoping to add more silverware to their collection by the end of the campaign. However, Arsenal didn't impress in the preseason with only two victories in four matches. In the latest test, they played only 1-1 with Como, but eventually triumphed after the penalty shootout. 

The only departure worth mentioning this summer is Leandro Trossard, who went to Besiktas. On the other hand, Arsenal improved significantly with the addition of Bruno Guimaraes (from Newcastle), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Illan Meslier (Leeds) and Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge). Of course, we should expect more changes in the coming weeks. 

William Saliba, who suffered a back injury at the World Cup, will miss at least the next few weeks. Without him, Arsenal looked vulnerable defensively, as they conceded eight goals in four friendly matches. Besides Saliba, Jurrien Timber will not play on Sunday afternoon either. 

The Pep Guardiola era ended for Manchester City. He won six Premier League titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups, and five EFL Cups with the club, and it is a big question how the Citizens will look without probably the best manager in the world. Last season, Manchester City finished seven points behind Arsenal, and they could again be the biggest threat to Mikel Arteta's team. Guardiola leaves enormous shoes to fill, but the club's hierarchy believes the new manager, Enzo Maresca, has the quality and potential to keep City competing at the very highest level.

Manchester City had only three friendly matches this summer. They opened the preseason with a defeat after penalties to Inter Milan, but in the next two games, they beat K-League Stars and Atletico Madrid. In two wins, Maresca's team scored six goals, and we should expect them to continue in good attacking form. 

A few players with a big role in the previous seasons left Manchester City this summer. John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, and James Trafford are no longer part of the team, and it seems the team is undergoing a rebuild. On the other hand, by far the biggest addition is Elliot Anderson, who came from Nottingham Forest for 135 million euros. Also, Manchester City signed youngster Jeremy Monga (Leicester) and veteran Geronimo Rulli (Marseille). 

Rodri is injured and will not play on Saturday at Wembley.