Arsenal vs Man City LIVE: Community Shield latest score and goal updates as Declan Rice and Kai Havertz start

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free

Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter

Thanks for signing up to the
Football email

The Community Shield is always a game for the calendar – the official opening of elite action in England’s men’s game. This time around it’s treble-winners Manchester City and last season’s Premier League runners-up Arsenal who meet at Wembley, fighting for the first prize of the new campaign.

Mikel Arteta has added the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz to his squad this summer, while Mateo Kovacic has traded Chelsea for Man City as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan.

While not usually a match which foretells the fortunes of the season ahead, it’s still an intriguing opportunity to see where these respective squads are ahead of the opening game of the 2023/24 league next term. Follow live updates from the Community Shield at Wembley below:

12’ – Arsenal 0-0 Man City

Fairly quiet start from the Gunners’ new front man Havertz – who many expected to be in midfield. Perhaps Eddie Nketiah also expected this, but he’s only sub today instead of starting in the absence of Gabriel Jesus.

Haaland and Alvarez tee up Rodri now and he scuffs one wide of the near post from 20 yards, via a slight deflection.

8’ – Arsenal 0-0 Man City

Yellow card for Thomas Partey. A minor pull-back results in a foul he disagrees with, he flicks the ball away and Stuart Attwell has no time whatsoever for such transgressions on this warm afternoon. Out comes the yellow and he’s the first name into teh book this term.

4’ – Arsenal 0-0 Man City

A first moment of threat form City as a break down the left results in a cross to the far post – but Arsenal defend both that, and the second delivery, resolutely.

Walker keeps the move alive and between he and Silva City work themselves back into a pattern of play which almost sees Kovacic break through – just about cleared this time by Gabriel.

Arsenal 0-0 Man City

We are underway at Wembley!

Immediately a rousing chorus from the travelling-not-too-far Gunners fans, who are in fine voice as the 2023/24 season officially gets underway.

Declan Rice, as he did against Monaco in midweek, is playing slightly higher than sitting midfielder Thomas Partey – left side of midfield, with Martin Odegaard right in that trio.

Arsenal 0-0 Man City

Anthems time at Wembley. Just a couple of minutes from kick-off!

Arsenal vs Man City – latest

Plenty of noise and atmopshere now as Arsenal fans jeer ‘Blue Moon’ and then sing their own anthems over the top. City fans not too much reaction or response.

Now for the pre-match ceremonies including a handful of award-winners and the delivering of the matchball and trophy.

Arsenal vs Man City – latest

Just under 15 minutes to go until kick off and the sprinklers are on at Wembley.

The players have been out for their warm-up, the crowd is filling up nic,ely and the sunshine is out, too.

Pretty much set for a lovely curtain-raiser.

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus will ‘be back soon’ from injury

Mikel Arteta is confident Gabriel Jesus will not miss much of the new season as he offered a positive early prognosis on the Arsenal forward’s knee surgery.

The Brazil international went under the knife on Wednesday after experiencing irritation following a more serious operation to treat an injury suffered at the World Cup.

Jesus spent three months on the sidelines recovering during last season as the Gunners ultimately fell short in their Premier League title tilt.

Having been absent for Wednesday night’s Emirates Cup clash with Monaco, Jesus will also miss the start of the new campaign – including Sunday’s Community Shield clash with former club Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta offers injury update on Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus

The Brazil international missed three months of last season with a knee injury picked up at the World Cup.

Manchester City sign second most expensive central defender in history

Manchester City have completed the signing of Josko Gvardiol, making the Croatia international the second most expensive centre-back ever.

City have paid RB Leipzig £77 million for the 21-year-old, who passed a medical at the Etihad Stadium on Friday, and he has signed a five-year contract.

The fee is just short of the world record for a defender, the £80 million Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019, and Gvardiol becomes City’s second summer signing, after his international teammate Mateo Kovacic.

Gvardiol believes he can improve under Pep Guardiola, who he called the world’s outstanding manager, after agreeing to join the treble winners.

Manchester City sign second most expensive central defender in history

The Croatia international has joined Manchester City for £77 million

Arsenal will need ‘unheard of’ points tally to win title – Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta knows his Arsenal side will need a monumental points tally if they are to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title his season.

The two rivals meet in Sunday’s Community Shield, the Gunners taking part after they finished second to treble-winning City last year.

Arsenal led the way for much of the campaign but lost both home and away to Pep Guardiola’s men, who have now claimed five of the last six league crowns.

Arsenal will need ‘unheard of’ points tally to win title – Mikel Arteta

Arsenal take on Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Source: Read Full Article