Arsenal to meet Manchester City in 2026 Community Shield at Millennium Stadium on August 16

Arsenal face Manchester City in the 2026 FA Community Shield at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Arsenal qualified as Premier League champions while Manchester City earned their place as 2026 FA Cup winners; Khel Now predicts a 1-1 draw with Arsenal winning on penalties.

This fixture repeats the 2023 Community Shield, when Arsenal beat Manchester City on penalties after a 1-1 draw. City have won only one of their last six meetings with Arsenal, that victory coming in a 2-1 Premier League win at the Etihad in April in which Kai Havertz scored. Havertz is expected to lead Arsenal’s attack because several squad members are not expected to start following limited pre-season minutes. Mohamed Marmoush scored twice in Manchester City’s 3-1 pre-season win over Atletico Madrid, and recent Arsenal recruit Bruno Guimaraes is available to make his debut after appearing off the bench against Como.

Arsenal will be without Jurrien Timber due to a groin injury and William Saliba because of a back issue; both are likely to remain absent for the time being. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Martin Zubimendi have returned from World Cup duty but are not guaranteed starting places after missing pre-season minutes. David Raya is expected to start in goal following his penalty saves in the midweek match against Arsenal. Managerial selection choices may reflect those availability constraints when the team is named.

For Manchester City, Erling Haaland has returned to training but is anticipated to begin the match on the bench after not featuring in pre-season fixtures. Rodri remains unavailable following back surgery. Savinho missed training earlier this week because of illness, and Tijjani Reijnders is reported to be close to a move to the Saudi Pro League. New signing Elliot Anderson has yet to make his City debut and is expected to be used from the bench at most.

Khel Now lists projected starting XIs as follows: Arsenal — Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly; Madueke, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz. Manchester City — Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Kovacic, Gonzalez; Savinho, Foden, Semenyo; Marmoush. Both clubs produced mixed pre-season results, which, combined with Arsenal’s recent Community Shield record and their 2023 shootout win over City, complicates a clear pre-match favourite.

Sports Mole expects the match to be level after 90 minutes before Arsenal prevail in the shootout. In India, the Community Shield will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV; Khel Now’s prediction remains Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City, with Arsenal winning on penalties. The 2026 Community Shield is scheduled for Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.