How Arsenal, Man City Could Line Up in Community Shield As Arteta Faces Injury Issues

• Manchester City and Arsenal will conclude their pre-season preparations with a clash in the Community Shield
• The top-two sides last season will square off at Wembley Stadium in the ceremonial curtain raiser
• Both sides have significant injury issues, with key players unavailable for the duel

Arsenal and Manchester City will give fans a taste of the new Premier League season when they line up at Wembley Stadium for the Community Shield on August 6.

The new season will kick off next weekend, with the Community Shield coming a week earlier, as it is the norm, to act as a curtain raiser for yet another intriguing campaign.

Manchester City will be at Wembley by virtue of being the defending Premier League and FA Cup Champions. Arsenal finished second behind the Citizens and thus earned the right after City won both domestic cups.

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By Pep Guardiola's admission, the Gunners would be more prepared for the fixture given that they started two weeks earlier than Manchester City, who were still on holiday. Mikel Arteta's side have been in the United States for their preseason tour, while Man City have been in Japan.

Arsenal team news

Arteta confirmed that lead striker Gabriel Jesus will be put for a few weeks after picking up a knee injury, as reported by The Athletic. In the Brazilian's absence, Eddie Nketiah could be the go-to striker, with January signing Leandro Trossard an equally able replacement.

The fixture will offer new signings Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber a chance to land their competitive debuts.

Arteta has so far shown that he intends to use Havertz in midfield, prompting questions on whether Thomas Partey will be benched.

Apart from Jesus, Bukayo Saka is also facing a late fitness test after missing their midweek clash against Monaco with sickness. Mohamed Elneny remains a long-term absentee, with Sambi Lokonga and Reiss Nelson also doubts for the clash.

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Olekasnadr Zinchenko will also sit out of the Wembley showdown, having not featured in Arsenal's preseason.

Probable lineup: Ramsdale: Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Trossard, Martinelli, Saka

Manchester City team news

The team news in the blue side of Manchester is pretty straightforward, with only two worries for Guardiola.

Kevin De Bruyne suffered a hamstring injury in the Champions League final in June and has not been involved in the preseason games so far.

The Belgian was joined by Nathan Ake on the mending table after the defender limped off in their win against Bayern Munich on July 26.

Guardiola confirmed that Josko Gvardiol is moments away from signing his Manchester City contract, but this fixture will come a little bit too early for the Croat.

Joao Cancelo is back from loan and has been involved in preseason despite interest from Barcelona. Mateo Kovacic is in line to make his competitive debut after making the move from Chelsea.

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Possible lineup; Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Kovacic, Foden; Silva, Haaland, Grealish

Possible Gabriel Jesus replacements

Arsenal will be without first-choice striker, Gabriel Jesus for the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season after he pulled out of the squad before the Emirates Cup win over Monaco.

After the game, head coach Mikel Arteta confirmed Jesus underwent a minor procedure and while it is 'nothing serious', he will miss a few weeks. This comes as a big blow because he was just getting back to his best.

Sports Brief looks at five Gunners stars who can deputise for the Brazilian starting from the Community Shield clash against his former club, Manchester City, on Sunday.