Man City know Arsenal weakness will be tested in Community Shield

Pep Guardiola knows that his team will not be heading into this game close to full fitness, and they have lost the last two Community Shield games with that approach. That did not stop them from winning the Premier League though (and the rest), and so there will not be much for Manchester City to take from this match beyond their pursuit of six trophies in a calendar year.

Arsenal, however, have much more on the line. They are not only looking to show that they can challenge for the title again but also that they can handle the nerves that Gabriel Jesus admitted got the better of them last season.

An early game at Wembley against an undercooked City is the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to send a message round the league, but that raises the stakes for them. Lose when they have the upper hand and you don't need to be Erling Haaland to know the hysterical takes that can do the rounds for a whole week.

Also read: Pep Guardiola sends Man City transfer message over two players

For that reason, Arsenal need this win more than City do.

Last summer Arsenal signed two players from City and this year they went one better by signing a player targeted for the Etihad. Guardiola will not be the only one with a keen eye on Declan Rice when the former West Ham midfielder lines up for his new team to face the club he could have joined.

City have added Mateo Kovacic to their engine room and could also play Phil Foden there, and each fanbase will be keen to leave Wembley claiming that they have triumphed from the deal - either by signing Rice or employing alternatives.

It should be remembered that tens of thousands of Blues who followed City everywhere last season will not be at Wembley for the Community Shield. Some don't normally