Arsenal face Manchester City on Sunday, 16 August 2026 at 17:00 GMT+3 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff for the Community Shield.
Arsenal have won only one of their four pre-season friendlies, while Manchester City begin the Enzo Maresca era with several players yet to feature after an extended break following the World Cup. Both sides should have chances to make their mark in a season-opening fixture that has repeatedly remained level after 90 minutes.
I’m expecting goals from Arsenal and Manchester City, with another closely matched Community Shield also firmly on the radar.
Below is the full match preview, predictions and betting analysis.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Tips
- Arsenal vs Manchester City: Both Teams To Score @ with N/A
- Arsenal vs Manchester City: Draw 1-1 @ with N/A
*Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Odds
| Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Arsenal |
|
| Draw |
|
| Manchester City |
|
*Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Free Bets and Offers
No promotions available for your location at the moment.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Predictions
Goals at both ends remain a familiar theme
Both teams have scored in each of Arsenal’s last six matches, including friendlies. The Gunners have therefore produced a sustained run of games in which neither side has kept the other off the scoresheet.
Manchester City have followed a similar path. Their last five fixtures have all featured goals at both ends, giving both teams a clear recent scoring frequency before this Community Shield meeting.
The competition itself has often delivered the same type of scoreline. Seven of the last nine Community Shields have seen both teams score, and I’m backing Both Teams To Score at 1.61 after comparable sequences from Arsenal and Manchester City.
Tip: Both Teams To Score @ with N/A
Community Shield history favours another 1-1 draw
Six of the last nine Community Shields have finished level before being decided on penalties. Five of those six matches were 1-1 after 90 minutes, making that score especially prominent in recent editions of the competition.
Manchester City have also found the season opener difficult to settle in normal time. They have finished as runners-up in nine of their 16 Community Shield appearances and have not won the trophy in normal time since 2018, although two of their five appearances since then ended with penalty-shootout victories.
Recent results provide another useful marker. Two of Arsenal’s last six matches have finished 1-1, while Manchester City have recorded the same score in two of their last five.
With five of the last six penalty-decided Community Shields finishing 1-1, the Draw 1-1 could be worth a look at 6.50.
Tip: Draw 1-1 @ with N/A
Arsenal vs Manchester City Projected Starting Lineups
Arsenal
Raya, White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Guimarães, Ødegaard, Madueke, Gyökeres, Martinelli.
Manchester City
Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Reijnders, Anderson, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Marmoush.
