On his time off: “Plenty of rest, some work done as well. It was a break I really enjoyed.”

On bedding in new signings: “Christos (Tzolis) came early which always helps, and Bruno joined us last week. He is in good condition and we know what he can bring to the team.”

On helping Rice and Saka recover: “It is not only the physical load, but the mental load as well. They knew the final was today, they all wanted to come back early and be involved.”

On what Bruno Guimaraes will offer: “He is going to drive the dressing room, up the standards. When you bring a player of his quality he will make the whole team better.”

Arsenal to win: 2/1

Odds via

An interesting lineup from City, with Elliot Anderson making his full debut at the base of midfield next to Mateo Kovacic.

Erling Haaland is straight back in at the deep end, starting up top in place of Omar Marmoush despite only recently returning from his summer holidays.

Phil Foden is restored in the No10, with Rayan Cherki on the bench along with Marc Guehi and summer signing Geronimo Rulli.

Tijjani Reijnders is left out as he closes in on a move away from the club.

Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Anderson; Semenyo, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Rulli, Guehi, Marmoush, Cherki, Nico, Grealish, Ait-Nouri, Nunes, Lewis

Arsenal’s pre-season results were distinctly mixed but underpinned by questions over form and sharpness.

Of course, one cannot read too deep into a friendly, but here are the Gunners’ summer results in full:

4-1 W vs Girona

3-1 L vs Real Betis

3-2 L vs Borussia Dortmund

1-1 D vs Como (4-3 W after pens)

Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri have both been left out of Arsenal’s matchday squad for the Community Shield.

Both have been linked with moves away from the club this summer.

The headline here is that Bruno Guimaraes starts, making his full competitive debut for Arsenal. Joining him in midfield are Myles Lewis-Skelly, who seems to have played down his chances of leaving the club this summer, and captain Martin Odegaard.

Christos Tzolis also makes his full debut, and he is joined in the front three by Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke.

Ben White is in at right-back, with Jurrien Timber injured.

Raya; White, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori; Lewis-Skelly, Guimaraes, Odegaard; Madueke, Havertz, Tzolis

Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Rice, Eze, Dowman, Saka, Gyokeres

Here’s the light at the end of the tunnel. Which of these two sides will kick off the 2026/27 campaign with a piece of silverware?

The trek to Wales has not deterred many fans. They are already out in force in the Welsh capital, where an Arsenal-sympathetic crowd is expected.