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Community Shield in Cardiff
Arsenal and Manchester City meet in the Community Shield on Sunday at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium as the curtain-raiser for the new English season.
“when they take on Arteta’s Arsenal in the Community Shield today (Sunday) at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium”
The New York Times frames the match as a test of Enzo Maresca’s start after he was entrusted with taking over at Manchester City following Pep Guardiola’s departure, with the game against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal set for today (Sunday).
Sportstar says Arsenal come into the match as the Premier League champion after securing its first title in 22 years, while Manchester City enter as the FA Cup holder after beating Chelsea in the final.
Fubo and TyC Sports both place the fixture at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, with TyC Sports listing the kickoff at 11:00 and Fubo giving the game time as 9:55 a.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.
Maresca vs Arteta voices
Arsenal’s own preview quotes Mikel Arteta saying, "The best version of us has to be on Sunday, and that's the intention: that we have the best performance and the best way to start the season, by lifting the first trophy."
In the same Arsenal account, Enzo Maresca insists, "For me personally, it is a trophy. When trophies and a final are there, you always try to win the game, so, no friendly game at all."
The New York Times adds that the rivalry is not being treated as a friendly, pointing to Viktor Gyokeres’ comments after a pre-season match against Borussia Dortmund last weekend.
TyC Sports also lists the match details in Cardiff, setting the Community Shield 2026 kickoff at 11:00 at the Millennium Stadium and naming Sam Barrott as the referee and James Bell as VAR.
Squad shifts and what’s at risk
The New York Times says City’s pre-season has been shaped by a club-record signing in Elliot Anderson and by uncertainty around departures and arrivals, with Rodri potentially leaving and Enzo Fernandez potentially arriving.
“We will definitely be missing William Saliba and Jurrien Timber in Cardiff”
Arsenal’s preview lists absences for Cardiff, saying "We will definitely be missing William Saliba and Jurrien Timber in Cardiff," while it adds that Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Martin Zubimendi have yet to feature during pre-season but have been training this week.
Sporting News places the match at 10:00 a.m. ET at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales and says Arsenal are favored at a +160 price with the over/under set at 2.5, while Action Network and PrizePicks both describe the Community Shield as a first chance for the new City era under Enzo Maresca.
The stakes are also reflected in the match’s context as a trophy opener, with Arsenal’s preview describing the goal as "lifting the first trophy" and Sportstar noting Crystal Palace as the current holder after beating Liverpool on penalties last year after the match ended 2-2 in regulation time.
