Simon Bajkowski
Chief Manchester City reporter at the Manchester Evening News

Jack Grealish hasn't really had a role [during pre-season]. They went away to Asia for two weeks and he stayed because was still recovering from injury.

I think it's unlikely he stays at the club beyond the transfer window. I think he'll go out on loan but while he is here, it's clear he's done enough to get into the squad today. So, if he's not gone next week, he could well be in the squad against Bournemouth.

Both sides are still likely to be busy this summer.

Arsenal are interested in England defenders Ezri Konsa and Jarrel Quansah. And they have talked to Galatasaray about Victor Osimhen while discussing the potential sales of wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri.

Manchester City meanwhile are interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi and could sell Rodri to Barcelona.

Tijjani Reijnders is set to join Saudi Pro-League outfit Al-Qadsiah.

City are also interested in Chelsea winger Pedro Neto.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal ended their long wait to win the Premier League again by securing the title last season.

It means they begin this campaign as defending champions - something they have not done since the 2004-05 season.

The Gunners are favourites to lift the trophy once more - but what does history tell us about how defending champions perform, and just how likely is it that Mikel Arteta's men can claim back-to-back Premier League titles?

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola made defending the Premier League title look easy in recent years.

After first leading City to the title in 2017-18, Guardiola led a successful defence four times before leaving the club this summer.

But prior to the Catalan's arrival in the Premier League, winning a title two or more seasons in a row was proving a tough task, with the trophy changing hands in each of the eight seasons before Guardiola's first title win.

Read more here.

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports: "I had plenty of rest. Some work as well. It was a break that I really enjoyed."

On new signings: "Christos [Tzolis] came early so that always helps. Bruno [Guimaraes] joined us last week. He's in good condition and we know what he will bring to the team."

On bringing players back in: "It is something very individual. Declan [Rice] played over 65 games; he needed complete rest and we have to build him up. They remain so competitive. They wanted to be involved and that's good to see as well."

On what Guimaraes will bring: "He is a ball of energy. He has an unbelievable desire to win every ball. You sense he will drive the dressing room and when you bring someone with that competitive nature, it will only drive the boys."

On defending the Premier League: "Very difficult, that's why we haven't done it in this football club. You have to raise the level from every angle."

On Enzo Maresca: "I know Enzo really well. I think he's a really impressive manager and is clear with his ideas of how he wants to get things done."

If you want to have your say on today's game or anything else semi-related click on the yellow 'get involved' box you'll see on this page.

This is City's first game under Enzo Maresca.

It's going to take some time to get used to typing 'Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca' instead of Pep Guardiola.

The Catalan left City this summer after a decade which produced six Premier League trophies, a Champions League and loads of domestic cups too.

Former City assistant Maresca has previously managed Leicester for a season and Chelsea for a year and a half before resigning at the start of 2026.

Pat Nevin
Former Everton winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

On Enzo Maresca appointment...

I think there is some surprise. He was OK at Chelsea, not absolutely brilliant, and when you're replacing Pep Guardiola, you're looking around the world to get the very, very best managers.

But maybe we're at an inflection point. We've gone through these periods where we knew the Ancelottis, and the Klopps and the Peps etc. We're at a different point now maybe where we're seeing a different breed.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says fans don't have to worry about his contract status because he wants to stay.

The Spaniard, who led the Gunners to the Premier League title last season, is out of contract at the end of this campaign.

"No, they don't have to worry about any of that because I want to be here, I'm extremely happy," Arteta said.

"I feel very grateful to work with the people that I work with and whenever we have the possibility we will resolve that and that's it.

"Everybody feels comfortable that the time on the contract is not going to be an issue. My will certainly is to be here and I'm very happy here. And my feeling from the club is the same one, so I think that's why everybody is doing things in a really organic way."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Community Shield isn't being played at Wembley today or even in England.

But don't worry it's not been moved to the other side of the world like most of the other big countries do for their Super Cups.

It's in Wales in Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

That is because of a music gig taking place at Wembley today. The Weeknd's 'After Hours til Dawn' tour if you were wondering.

It is the third time the game will take place somewhere other than Wembley since the stadium reopened in 2007.

In 2012 it was at Villa Park because of the Olympics and in 2022 it was at the King Power Stadium because of the Women's Euros.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter at Principality Stadium

There is no place for Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli or Gabriel Jesus in the Arsenal squad today.

The trio have all been linked with move away from the Gunners this summer.

So that's £75m Bruno Guimaraes and £34m Christos Tzolis making their Arsenal debuts and £116m Elliot Anderson playing for City for the first time.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter at Principality Stadium

In Arsenal's first competitive game of this season Mikel Arteta lines up with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Odegaard in midfield.

The Gunners bench is stacked with quality as Zubimendi, Merino, Rice, Saka and Eze are all named as substitutes.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Guimaraes, Odegaard, Madueke, Tzolis, Havertz

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Rice, Eze, Dowman, Saka, Gyokeres

Enzo Maresca names Elliot Anderson in midfield while Erling Haaland leads the line. Jack Grealish is named among the substitutes for City.

Man City starting XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Kovacic, Anderson, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Subs: Rulli,Guehi, Marmoush, Cherki, Nico, Grealish, Ait-Nouri, Nunes, Lewis

Big money midfielders making their debuts for both clubs today. Let's have a look.

BBC Radio 5 Live

There is full live commentary of this game on BBC Radio 5 Live - which you can listen to all the usual ways plus at the top of this page.

Build-up has already started.

You can also listen live on BBC Radio Manchester.

It's either the first trophy of the season or the final friendly - depending on your viewpoint.

Welcome to live text and radio commentary of the Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City.