Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are entering the new season in a strong position as they prepare to face Manchester City in Sunday’s FA Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The traditional curtain-raiser brings together the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners from the previous campaign, offering both sides an early opportunity to lift silverware before the league season begins.
Arsenal have not won the Community Shield since 2023, when they defeated Manchester City on penalties after a 1-1 draw. City returned to the fixture the following year and claimed the trophy by beating Manchester United in another penalty shootout.
The competition was decided from the spot again last year, with Crystal Palace overcoming Liverpool to win their first Community Shield. The sequence means the past three editions have all required penalties to determine the winner.
For Arsenal, Sunday’s contest provides an early examination of a squad that has undergone significant preparation during pre-season. Arteta said the club have approached their preparations without compromising their plans despite the limited time between the Community Shield and the opening Premier League fixtures.
“I think we are in a really good place. I sense really good things. We are still adapting.”
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Manager
The Arsenal manager acknowledged that his team remain a work in progress, but believes they have maintained the right approach throughout pre-season. With the first trophy of the campaign arriving before the league opener, Arteta said his priority has been getting his players into the best possible condition.
Dowman Must Earn His Opportunity
One of the players attracting attention is teenage prospect Max Dowman, who has been involved throughout Arsenal’s pre-season preparations.
Arteta confirmed that the youngster is fully integrated into the first-team environment and has completed the club’s pre-season programme. However, the manager was careful not to guarantee him playing time against City.
“He is 100% with us,” Arteta said, stressing that Dowman will be treated like every other member of the squad.
The teenager will therefore have to earn his opportunity rather than receive one simply because of his age or growing reputation. Arteta’s message underlines the competition for places within an Arsenal squad looking to challenge on several fronts.
The Community Shield could provide an early indication of how Arteta intends to use his players before the Premier League campaign gets under way.
Arteta Pays Tribute to Guardiola
The meeting will also give Arteta an opportunity to face a Manchester City side under new manager Enzo Maresca, following Pep Guardiola’s departure.
Arteta, who worked closely with Guardiola during his time on City’s coaching staff, offered an expansive tribute to his former mentor and credited him with transforming the Premier League’s tactical landscape.
He described Guardiola as “the best coach in the history of football” and said the Spaniard had introduced a different way of understanding the game while raising standards across English football.
Arteta also admitted he had not known with certainty that Guardiola would leave, although he sensed the possibility during the latter stages of the manager’s tenure.
“I owe him gratitude for the time I was there,” Arteta said, reflecting on the influence Guardiola had on his own development. He believes Guardiola’s impact extended beyond Manchester City, forcing rival coaches and teams to rethink how they approached football.
Attention, however, will now turn to Maresca, whom Arteta believes possesses the personality, character and knowledge required to succeed at City. He pointed to the Italian’s work in the Championship and at Chelsea as evidence that he has earned the opportunity.
With Arsenal seeking an early statement and City beginning a new era, Sunday’s Community Shield carries significance beyond the trophy itself. Arteta’s confidence suggests Arsenal believe they are ready, but the stage will provide the first competitive test of whether that optimism can translate into silverware.
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