Arsenal and Manchester City raise the curtain on the new Premier League season this weekend, with the Community Shield up for grabs.

As is the tradition in England, the reigning champions take on the FA Cup holders to kick-off the new campaign and this will be a chance to both sides to put down an early marker as they are expected to do battle once again for the title.

While the Gunners are no strangers to playing in the Community Shield, this will be the first time they are participating as Premier League champions in 22 years after topping the table last season ahead of Man City.

Meanwhile, six of the last eight Community Shield showdowns have featured Man City due to their dominance in English football.

Though, this will be their first in a decade without Pep Guardiola after he stepped down in May and has since been replaced by Enzo Maresca, who will renew his rivalry with Mikel Arteta on the touchline.

Arsenal vs Man City is scheduled for a 3pm BST kick-off on Sunday, August 16, 2026.

The match will take place at The Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales.

The Community Shield is not taking place at its traditional home at Wembley this year because Canadian pop star The Weeknd has booked five nights at Wembley, between August 14 and 19 for his After Hours Til Dawn Tour.

In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports. Coverage starts at 2pm on TNT Sports 1.

Live stream: Sky Sports/TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via ’s live blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground.

Bruno Guimaraes is in line to make his competitive Arsenal debut after featuring as a substitute in the final pre-season friendly against Como on Wednesday evening.

Arteta has a decision to make in defence with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber sidelined through injury. Cristhian Mosquera is favourite to Gabriel at centre-back, but youngster Marli Salmon has impressed in pre-season.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is poised to start in midfield, likely alongside captain Martin Odegaard as Kai Havertz moves into a more familiar centre-forward role.

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka could be involved in the matchday squad but are unlikely to start in any case having not played a single minute of pre-season due to their World Cup exploits.

Man City are set to be without Rodri for the game. The Spaniard has been linked with a move to Barcelona and is still recovering from back surgery which will delay his start to the season.

Erling Haaland was back in training on Thursday after and extended post-World Cup break, so is unlikely to lead the line in Cardiff. Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush, though, should all be raring to go.

New signing Elliot Anderson is pushing to make the matchday squad after joining up with the squad late.

Neither Arsenal or Man City have been at full strength during pre-season, so this is shaping up to be a close game.

A penalty shootout cannot be ruled out, especially as four of the last six Community Shield matches have been settled in this fashion - including the last time these two teams met in this competition.

However, we think with Man City looking a little bit sharper than the Gunners, Maresca will get this reign off to a winning start.

Man City to win, 2-0.

Arsenal and Man City have previously met twice in the Community Shield, with the Gunners emerging victorious on both occasions.

Arsenal wins: 101

Arsenal to lift trophy: 20/23

Odds via UK betting sites (subject to change).