Manchester City and Arsenal will get the new domestic season up and running on Sunday when they meet in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.

City will be contesting the traditional season curtain-raiser for the fifth time in six years after they claimed Premier League and FA Cup glory last term, part of a domestic treble that also saw Pep Guardiola's side triumph in the Champions League for the very first time.

Arsenal pushed City all the way in the Premier League last season, leading the division for a remarkable 248 days before eventually being pipped to the post by the Citizens.

The Gunners have strengthened their squad over the summer and they will hope to lay down an early marker against the Citizens at Wembley, with Mikel Arteta's side available at 10/3 in the Full Time Result Market, while City are 8/11 and the draw is a 3/1 shot.

City have hoodoo over Arsenal

City swept all before them both domestically and in Europe last term, including successfully chasing down Arsenal to claim a fifth Premier League title in six years.

However, one trophy the Citizens did miss out on was the Community Shield, as they were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool in last season's curtain-raiser, while they also lost the 2021 showpiece to Leicester.

Guardiola will be determined his side don't miss out on the first domestic trophy of the season for the third year in a row and City will fancy their chances of getting the better of an Arsenal side they have something of a hoodoo over.

The Citizens have won the last eight meetings between the two teams, including clinching the league double over the North Londoners last season, a pair of results that ultimately helped Guardiola's side overhaul their rivals at the top of the standings.

City are 8/11 to claim the victory inside 90 minutes on Sunday, but Arsenal did at least manage to score in both league meetings last term, so backing the Citizens to win and both teams to score at 9/4 in the Result/Both Teams to Score market could offer more value.

Gunners boast impressive Community Shield record

Arsenal's recent record against City does not make for pretty reading, but the Gunners will at least take solace from their impressive recent showings in the Community Shield, as they have lifted the trophy on their last four appearances in the season curtain-raiser.

The most recent of those successes came on penalties against Liverpool in 2020 and Arteta's men are 13/2 to triumph via spot kicks once again on Sunday, while City are 6/1 in the same market.

The Gunners also claimed a resounding 3-0 success the last time they faced City in the Community Shield back in 2014, with Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey scoring the goals for Arsene Wenger's side that day - a repeat of that scoreline on Sunday can be backed at an eye-watering 50/1.

De Bruyne sidelined for City

City are the favourites to lift the trophy on Sunday, but if they are to achieve that goal they will have to do so without Kevin De Bruyne, who remains sidelined with the hamstring injury he picked up in their Champions League final victory over Inter Milan.

There is better news regarding Nathan Ake, who is expected to be available after missing City's final pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid, while new signing Mateo Kovacic could be handed a start following his summer switch from Chelsea.

The game will come too soon for Kovacic's Croatian international colleague Josko Gvardiol, however, although he is on the verge of joining City from RB Leipzig and could even be unveiled ahead of kick-off.

Rice set to feature, but Jesus sidelined

Arsenal's hopes of lifting the Community Shield have been dented before a ball has even been kicked, as forward Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out of the contest after undergoing minor knee surgery, while fellow front man Folarin Balogun is a doubt with a foot issue.

That is likely to mean Eddie Nketiah will lead the line at Wembley and he is 11/4 to score anytime, while Bukayo Saka should also feature after illness ruled him out of their final pre-season friendly with Monaco.

Declan Rice is also in line to feature at the heart of the Gunners midfield following his well documented club-record move from West Ham, while fellow new recruits Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz could also feature.

bet365 News Team

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