Arsenal have been handed a triple fitness boost ahead of the Community Shield against Manchester City, with Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi all set to be involved. The trio have not played a single minute in pre-season after only resuming training at the start of the week, having been given an extended break following the World Cup.
Guimaraes in line for first start
Bruno Guimaraes is in line to make his first Arsenal start against Manchester City in the Community Shield. The Brazilian featured off the bench in the Gunners' final pre-season match against Como in midweek and could now come into the starting lineup in Cardiff.
“They will be available,” Arteta said at his pre-match conference. “They trained with us today, they will train tomorrow. If they are in the condition we expect them to be, they will be involved.”
Expected lineup and absentees
Arsenal are expected to be cautious with their workload, meaning Guimaraes appears likely to line up alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly, who started every pre-season match. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba remain unavailable, so Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera are in line to start on the right of defence.
Christos Tzolis has been one of Arsenal's most impressive players this summer and will hope to get the nod over Gabriel Martinelli, who continues to be linked with a move to Turkey. Up front, Kai Havertz is often Arteta's preferred choice in Arsenal's biggest games.
Match details
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly; Dowman, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz. Injured: Saliba, Timber. Time and date: 3pm BST on Sunday, August 16, 2026. How to watch: TNT Sports. Venue: Principality Stadium.
