The new football season gets underway this weekend and the first silverware of the season is up for grabs as Manchester City take on Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley.
City won the Treble last season with a glorious and memorable campaign in which Pep Guardiola’s side claimed the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League. And now City will seek to defend all three of their crowns.
Traditionally, the Community Shield sees the winners of the Premier League take on the holders of the FA Cup. However, City won both of these trophies last season, and it means they will take on the Premier League runners-up in the form of Arsenal.
City overtook the Gunners last season in the closing stages of the campaign to win the Premier League for the fifth time in the space of six years. Mikel Arteta’s side spent much of the season at the top of the division but faltered as City went into top gear and overtook the Gunners to claim the title.
This afternoon sees the two sides lock horns again at Wembley for the curtain-raiser of the 2023/24 season. It is the chance to win the first piece of silverware of the season.
And the game will also give the chance for Guardiola to hand competitive debuts to midfielder Mateo Kovacic and potentially even new £77m signing Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig.
