Community Shield preview: How are Man City, Arsenal looking? - ESPN

Manchester City won the treble last season so will contend Sunday's Community Shield against last season's Premier League runners-up Arsenal (10:50 a.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+). But after a summer of upheaval, transfers and tours on foreign soil, how will each side match up? And does it mean anything before the season starts on Aug. 11?

Dawson: For the first time in a while there are questions about the Manchester City squad. Mateo Kovacic has come in but Ilkay Gundogan has left for Barcelona and Riyad Mahrez has moved to Saudi Arabia. There are also doubts about the futures of Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and Kalvin Phillips. Pep Guardiola's mantra has usually been that he won't keep players who are unhappy, but he can't afford a mass exodus this summer. A £77.6 million ($98m) deal for RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol is dragging on, and if it doesn't get done, you could argue that City will be weaker this season than last.

Olley: Arsenal have attempted to maintain the momentum of last season's unexpected Premier League title challenge by spending around £200m on three major summer signings — midfielder Declan Rice (£100m), defender Jurrien Timber (£40m) and forward Kai Havertz (£67.5m), all of whom were acquired early enough to take full part in the club's preseason tour of the United States. Although the Gunners still have work to do in the market — not least in trimming the squad — the club made a point of trying to do their business early in an effort to try to kick on in 2023-24. They impressed in victories over the MLS All-Stars and Barcelona, and although a defeat to Manchester United came in between, there is a sense of optimism that Arsenal can meet heightened expectations in the months