There's still a week to go before the Premier League season kicks off, though Sunday's Community Shield will serve as a warm-up for the action to follow. The annual meeting of the FA Cup winners and the league champions this year sees Arsenal take on Manchester City at Wembley, and both sides will no doubt want to win -- even if the trophy is hardly the most prestigious.
Arsenal vs. Manchester City, 2014 Community Shield: Preview and TV schedule
Arsenal meet Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.
Michael Regan
Key player - Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal)
Arsenal's marquee summer signing is undoubtedly attacker Alexis Sánchez, who arrives on the back of an excellent World Cup for Chile. He's undoubtedly one of the world's best players, and if Arsène Wenger can get him firing on all cylinders this season, he'll be a massive asset. It remains to be seen whether Sánchez will play on his more natural right flank, or displace Olivier Giroud up top.
Key matchup - The midfield battle
Arsenal are undoubtedly a team with dangerous players, though in recent years they've always seemed to have a pretty soft core. This year is no different, with Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta looking set to start in the deepest midfield positions against City. They're both fine ball players, and last year Ramsey looked genuinely like one of the best players in the league, but neither is a true anchorman to protect an unconvincing defence. Samir Nasri and Yaya Touré could well find the space to do damage.
Arsenal injuries and suspensions
Out: Theo Walcott, Serge Gnabry (knee), Per Mertesacker, Mesut Özil, Lukas Podolski (fitness). In doubt: David Ospina (thigh).
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Álvaro Negredo (foot), Bacary Sagna, Vincent Kompany, Frank Lampard (fitness). In doubt: Sergio Agüero, Martín Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta, Fernandinho (fitness).
The World Cup is likely to dictate the respective starting lineups for this match, with both sides unlikely to field any players who progressed deep into the competition. For Arsenal, that means World Cup winners Per Mertesacker, Mesut Özil and Lukas Podolski are all likely to miss out alongside the injured Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry, while new goalkeeper David Ospina is a doubt.
For City, Álvaro Negredo is certainly out with a foot injury, though Frank Lampard, Bacary Sagna and Vincent Kompany all won’t be involved. Also likely to miss out after their World Cup jaunts are Sergio Agüero, Martín Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta and Fernandinho.
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 3 p.m. local, 10 a.m. ET
Venue: Wembley, London, England
TV: Fox Sports 1 USA (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada), BT Sport 1 (U.K.)
Online: Fox Sports GO (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), BT Sport 1 (U.K.)
Listings via LiveSoccerTV.
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