Arsenal begin the 2023/24 campaign with a meeting against treble champions Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners have a dire recent record against City, winning just once since Pep Guardiola took charge in the summer of 2016. However, Mikel Arteta’s side can take confidence from their superb record at Wembley Stadium.
Across their previous 15 trips to the so-called home of football, Arsenal have lost just twice – although, one of those defeats was against City in the 2018 League Cup final.
Here’s the XI Arteta may deploy to extend Arsenal’s stellar form at Wembley.
GK: Aaron Ramsdale – Ahead of his Arsenal debut, Ramsdale admitted to thinking: “God, I hope they don’t boo me.” Whatever the England international produces on Sunday, he is unlikely to get any negative treatment from his own fans.
RB: Ben White – During his loan spell at Newport County, White’s pre-match meal often consisted of a curry. It’s unlikely he’d be able to sneak a chicken korma past Arsenal’s dieticians (although it is a source of protein).
CB: William Saliba – The commanding centre-back has not featured in a competitive setting for Arsenal since injuring his back against Sporting CP in March.
CB: Gabriel Magalhaes – While Saliba struggled with his fitness, Gabriel was a near ever-present, missing a grand total of 19 Premier League minutes all season.
LB: Jurrien Timber – With Oleksandr Zinchenko still nursing a calf problem, the Ajax arrival could be handed his debut in an unnatural left-back position.
CM: Martin Odegaard – As a child prodigy, Odegaard “would literally sit down and read the newspapers” to find out everything that was being written about him, he recalled. If that habit has persisted into adulthood, recent reports will be glowing.
CM: Declan Rice – Arsenal’s record arrival was briefly the subject of a bidding war between the Gunners and Manchester City this summer. Ultimately, Arteta was willing to sanction a nine-digit bid which proved too rich for Guardiola.
CM: Kai Havertz – In August 2021, Havertz explained: “More or less, I’m a midfield player but I like to go into the box.” After three mixed and middling seasons at Chelsea, his best position is still uncertain.
RW: Bukayo Saka – Despite scoring two goals against City – including a penalty last year – Saka has lost all nine of his meetings with Guardiola’s side.
ST: Eddie Nketiah – Gabriel Jesus’ familiar understudy only scored four goals while filling in for the striker last season before getting injured himself.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli – The young Brazilian forward lives in a Jewish community in Edgware and won a £100 raffle at the local primary school. After a new contract extension in February, Martinelli didn’t need the coupon and handed it back in for another lucky winner to be revealed.
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