Arsenal will face Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on Sunday. The Gunners have already won it (the Community Shield) under Mikel Arteta, so there is faith that he can lead his team to do what Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp have done in the previous two seasons: deny Pep Guardiola the Shield.
Arsenal will have a good chance of winning the Community Shield if Arteta fields his strongest starting lineup. So, what kind of lineup could Arteta field to deliver Guardiola his first blow of the season?
Defence
In the meantime, Aaron Ramsdale’s starting spot in between the sticks is secured but could come under threat if David Raya signs as a new Arsenal player.
Jurrien Timber replaces Ben White at right back in Mikel Arteta’s defence, leaving the Englishman on the bench. Arteta may do so in order to determine whether the Dutch international is worthy of playing in the Premier League. Arsenal’s back four should be completed by Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and Kieran Tierney.
Midfielders
Only Martin Odegaard is certain to start. So everyone is curious to see how Arteta will set up his midfield, with Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Thomas Partey all vying for a starting spot.
To be safe against the Citizens, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey could start alongside Odegaard, with Rice continuing to play in his new role as an attacking midfielder but time and again dropping to help out Partey.
Attack
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will undoubtedly begin in the wings. With Jesus out injured, Nketiah, who recently shone against Monaco, stealing the show in that match with a spectacular strike and being a nuisance to the Monaco defence, could be given a chance to lead the attack.
Can this lineup grab a big win versus City?
Daniel O
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My prediction for Arteta’s starting XI, with Timber cutting inside to play left-DM when we have the ball:
…….………….……. Ramsdale
………. White .… Saliba …. Magalhaes
…………….. Partey ……..… Timber
Saka . Odegaard . Havertz . Martinelli
………………………. Nketiah
Trossard was productive in pre-season, but Arteta might want to use Martinelli’s pace to exploit Man City’s high defensive line
Rice also played well in Xhaka’s position, but the gaffer might want a left-footed AM like Havertz, Vieira or Zinchenko to make more accurate crosses from the left wing
Gai, I agree with this formation. But since we can only use one inverted full back, I will prefer JTimber on the right to handle dangerous Grealish.
And then Rice to give pathey a big support against a City very good at ball possession. Havertz doesn’t have that physicality like Rice . Considering how Trossard played against City in FA cup last season at Ethihad and also against Baccelona , I take Trossard over Matinelli. Matinelli pacey runs may not work if Walker is selected for City.
But Trossard trickery could be the difference. Hope Arteta gets his selection right Havertz at some point in the game can come in for Saka.
Yeah I forgot about Grealish, who skinned White and Tomiyasu in some games
I thought Walker was moving to another club
Grealish DID NOT skin white nor tomi,infact he as ineffective during those games except his well taken one on one shot he scored with at the emirates stadium.
YouTube watch?v=hRHtV__0ZVU from 0:55
We need a good result here, it will be good for our psyche and how we kick on
—————–Ramsdale
White-Saliba-Magahlese-Timber/Tierney
—————–Rice——-Partey
Saka—-Odegaard/ Havertz—-Martinelli
——————–Tossard
The seven most important games that Arsenal needs to win and lift the big jug.
To win here and the season opening six games,
Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Timber
Partey
Odegaard Havertz
Saka Nketiah Martinelli
I would prefer to see Trossard down the middle and Rice instead of Havertz.
According to some we have an injury crisis, no idea how people come to that conclusion!
…………….Ramsdale
BW Saliba Gabriel Tierney
……….Timber Partey
………………….Ode
…Saka Trossard Martinelli
Some people need to invent a crisis.
Will be interesting to see if we can match Man City for ball possession 50%-50% 51%-49% 52%-48% etc and whether we can calmly play through their aggressive high press and not just kick it long up the field which would show we have gone to the next level. The only team I have seen able to do this consistently is Liverpool before last season.
My own armchair Arsenal supporter community Shield match Starting XI team against Man City at Wembley tomorrow is as below:
Ramsdale;
Timber Saliba Magalhaes Tierney;
Partey;
Odegaard Rice;
Saka Nkethia Martinelli.
My starts is too predictable. Therefore, I will ot be surprised if Arteta makes one or two changes to it. Say for instance, start Trossard and White. But he shouldn’t start Zinchenko to bench Tierney for the match. Because Zinny did not play any preseason game for Arsenal.
If we win this we will already have two trophies if you include the Emirates Cup!!!! Seriously, it’s a useful run out but not a real trophy, we would not have qualified if City hadn’t done the double. The real business starts a week later.
My own armchair Arsenal supporter Community Shield match Starting XI team against Man City at Wembley tomorrow is as below:
Ramsdale;
Timber Saliba Magalhaes Tierney;
Partey;
Odegaard Rice;
Saka Nkethia Martinelli.
My starts is too predictable. Therefore, I will not be surprised if Arteta makes one or two changes to it. Say for instance, start Trossard and White. But he shouldn’t start Zinchenko to bench Tierney for the match. Because Zinny did not play any preseason game for Arsenal.
Just watch Xhaka with an 87 minutes inspiring performance for Leverkusen hammering West Ham 4 nill.
The former Arsenal man was unplayable, how much we could do with Xhaka in the middle of the Park tomorrow.
Maybe Arsenal should demand £10 mill more from Leverkusen for his service.
Hahaha!! Practically and legally impossible,except if there is an ad-on that contain such clauses.
😒⁹
I would like Arteta to match up the 3-4-3 system used by City last season but I would rest key players such as Saka and Partey for the Forest match next week.Team selection not too important for what is another pre season outing.
Ramsdale,
Timber,Saliba,Gabriel.
White,Rice,Havertz,Tierney.
Trossard,Nketiah,Martinelli.
With our signings and the pre season games to date, this is not as easy to predict anymore.
………………….……….Ramsdale
White……..Saliba……..Gabriel………Timber
…………….Partey…………..
………………………………………….Rice
…………….Odegaard
Saka…………………..Nketiah………………..Trossard
I think this is how we will start, but I think both Martinelli and Havartz will get into the game with plenty of minutes whilst Jorginho, ESR and Tierney will get some minutes later.
Trossard edges Martinelli for me based on his performance against Barca, he is such a technically gifted player although not flashy. I am expecting Timber to be the signing of the season, he gives us everything Zinchenko does, but he is defensively better. My only doubt against Partey playing is the rumors persisting about Juventus, tell me it isn’t true.
The Manager has the last say though, I will prefer Ramsdale-Saliba-Maghaelli-White-Chinzenko-Partey-Odegaard-Rice-Trossard-Saka-Nkentiah. We need to always have multi tactics for every eventualities. We must come alive and be one of the major contenders for every trophy this term.
Ramsdale-timber-saliba-magalhaes-tierney-rice-partey-odegaard-martinelli-trossard/balogun-saka
Arsenal need to win this game at all costs. The strongest team is needed, not players who are still getting to know the Arsenal way of playing. It is not a game of testing testing but a game that will construct our ability to overcome would be strong teams in the league. Arteta should think carefully who to start.
I’ve just discovered that this game is live & free on UK terrestrial TV. That was unexpected👏.
Nice
Why Nketiah
Let’s go with
Ramsdale
White cannot be benched for sure his link up play with Saka is outstanding
Saliba, Gabriel, Timber
It’s Party time Partey ,but I would like to see Trossard as a number 8 he was trickery the last time I watched
Saka ,Odegaard,Smith Rowe
Then the killer Martinelli
……………………….Ramsdale
………. White .… Saliba …. Timber
…………….. Rice ……..… Partey
Saka . Odegaard . Havertz . Trossard
………………………. Martinelli
Honestly we need winning for this match. The reason is that to build our confidence anytime we want to play Manchester city in the league we shall know that nobody will underate Arsenal again. Secondly, with all these expenses on the players, we must win to build our confidence and chances of winning the league this season. This match is not for testing testing, Arteta should not do mistake on players selection. This is my strong selection:
Ramsdale
White, Gabriel, Saliba,Tierny/Timber
Odegard,Partey, Rice
Saka,Nketiah,Trosard
Man City will again use KDB and Haaland as target in a long ball game against Arsenal. So I think Arteta gonna put 4 tall CB at the back with tall DMs as well.
KDB is unlikely to start as he’s not yet recovered from the injury incurred in the Champions League final. I think it was a calf or hamstring that went.