Arsenal Look To Community Shield For Good League Start

Manchester City Vs Arsenal Match Preview - Community Shield 10.08.14

Finally. We can rejoice and celebrate the arrival of some proper footballing action. Sunday sees Arsenal face Manchester City in the first match of significance (sorry, Emirates Cup) since May. True, the Community Shield may have fallen in stature, but it still serves as a meangingful bellwether for the upcoming Premier League season, all the more when we take into consideration the contrast between these two clubs.

After all, Man City serves as the foil to Arsenal even if Chelsea seems more villainous. City have deeper pockets, and, what's more, they've raided our squad far more often. On Sunday, we may have to suffer the indignity of facing off against no less than three former Gunners - Clichy, Nasri, and Sagna - and this lends a sharper sheen on what might otherwise feel like a glorified friendly.

Speaking of friendlies, it was just a little less than a year ago that Arsenal met City for an actual friendly, beating them 3-1 on 10 August 2013. 'Twixt then and now, of course, we suffered the first of three thumpings from our rivals, staggering to a 6-3 defeat at the Etihad last December (abetted, perhaps, by a few dodgy offsides calls). Long story short, this ain't Man U-Wigan 2.0. There's a bit of bad blood to this, blunted only a little by the relatively low stakes.

Along those lines, we'll go in without Özil, Mertesacker, or Podolski, while City go in without Aguero, Demichelis, or Zabaleta. Does this mean that our additions to this point (Alexis, Debuchy, and Chambers) trump theirs (Sagna, Reges, and Lampard)? Perhaps. Squad-selection aside, it may come down to who wants it more, who sees the deeper symbolism.

At one end, Man City have amassed silverware at an astounding rate, with five trophies in the last three years. At the other, Arsenal can only claim last season's FA Cup in the last nine. This might suggest that City could adopt a more-casual attitude the outing, which suits me just fine. Should we lose, no one will take much note of it. Should we win, we take a bit of confidence into the Premier League season, one that starts with a bang, including a visit from City, a North London Derby, and a few others besides. Winning the Community Shield may not matter as much on its face as it does for momentum, then.

Beyond that, the matches start to fly fast and furious, with a visit from Crystal Palace the following Sunday and then a mid-week Champions League play-off against an opponent to be decided in the Friday draw. It's been a long summer. Sunday will tell us a little about how worth-it it has been.

LAST THREE

• Arsenal 1-1 Man City (29.03.2014)
• Man City 6-3 Arsenal (14.12.2013)
• Arsenal 0-2 Man City (13.01.2013)

FACT FILE

• Arsenal have not defeated Man City in a meaningful match since April 2012 (five fixtures).
• The last time that Man City played in the Community Shield, they lost to the FA Cup winner.
• This match marks only the fourth time that these two clubs have met outside of league competition since the formation of the Premiership.

INJURIES

We'll go in without Vermaelen, Miyaichi, Walcott, Gnabry, and Ospina, each of whom is recovering from injury, while Ozil, Mertesacker, and Podolski recuperate from World Cup duty.

At the other end, City will be without Negredo, who is recovering from injury, while Aguero, Demichelis, Zabaleta, and Fernandinho recuperate from their World Cup exertions.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI

Szczesny; Gibbs, Koscielny, Chambers, Debuchy; Flamini, Ramsey; Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell; Sanchez.

GOONESPHERE'S PREDICTION

Arsenal 3-2 Manchester City

For more from Jon, please visit woolwich1886.blogspot.com 

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