Preview
A certain 64-year-old Frenchman enjoyed a relatively luxurious summer. He treated the gaps in between his toes to the golden sands of the Copacabana beach, flexed his biceps in an invigorating session of beach volleyball with the local Brazilian babes, and splashed the cash on a frighteningly exciting Chilean forward.
But Arsène Whinger continues to moan, and the Premier League's finest Chilean import has become the latest victim of an exhausting verbal assault.
(Give us a smile, Arsène)
In his pre-match press conference, Wenger reinforced his views on Manchester City's capture of former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
"If you look at a map, the shortest way from Chelsea to Manchester City is not to fly to New York first," he grumbled, still affronted by City's mischievous tactics to avoid complying with Uefa's Financial Fair Play regulations.
Manuel Pellegrini responded in typically harmonious fashion, dismissing his fellow manager's remarks and insisting that 'the rules of financial fair play don't have any relation with Lampard'.
(Frank Lampard has joined Manchester City on a six-month loan deal from New York City FC)
Ironically, Arsenal have spent £48m more than the Premier League champions this summer, but their business has been applauded. The £35m arrival of Alexis Sánchez presents Arsène Wenger with a ferocious supply of pace and agility in his attack, whilst Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy and David Ospina arm the Frenchman with solidity at the back.
Manuel Pellegrini has introduced a refreshing transfer policy to the Etihad Stadium, sanctioning deals that the club need - not the fairytale imports that the fans and newspapers want. FC Porto's Fernando Reges displayed composure and grit in front of the back four on City's pre-season tour of the US and his ability to sit deep will allow Yaya Touré and Fernandinho to exhibit their attacking qualities on a more regular basis.
Willy Caballero and Bacary Sagna will also offer their experience to Manchester City's 2014/2015 title surge, and 23-year-old defender Eliaquim Mangala is likely to become the club's final addition of the summer.
(Eliaquim Mangala is set to join the blues in a £32m deal)
Arsenal have won the FA Community Shield on no fewer than 11 occasions and a victory against Manchester City on Sunday could provide the Gunners with the impetus required to mount a serious title challenge this season. Although the grey locks of Arsène Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini are unlikely to tangle in a touchline tug of war this weekend, the season's first glimpse of competitive football could be a fiery one.
Line-Ups
Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that Martin Demichelis, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Fernandinho, Frank Lampard and Sergio Agüero will miss the weekend clash after being given an extended break following their efforts at the World Cup.
(Manchester City will be without eight first-team players this weekend)
Álvaro Negredo is also unavailable with a broken metatarsal.
However, City's successful pre-season unmasked a healthy roster of promising talent. Bruno Zuculini, Kelechi Iheanacho and Stevan Jovetić all enjoyed fruitful pre-seasons and could be relied upon to secure City's first trophy of the season.
Arsenal will be without World Cup winning trio Mesut Özil, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker, but new signing Alexis Sánchez is set to make his debut for the Gunners.
Possible line-ups
Manchester City
- Defensively weak
- A midfield short of fitness, but packed with talent
- Jovetić in goalscoring form
Arsenal
- New look defence, Chambers likely to play out of position
- Ramsey keen to build on an impressive campaign
- Frightening pace on the flanks will hurt City's full backs
Match Facts
- The two sides have met one before in the Community Shield. Arsenal thrashed the blues 4-0 back in 1934 to secure their fourth Shield in five years.
- Arsenal have not featured in a Community Shield at Wembley since 1999.
- Arsenal have lost four of their last six competitive matches at Wembley.
- Manchester City have won the Community Shield four times, but never at Wembley.
- The blues last won the trophy in 2012 with a 3-2 victory over Chelsea.
