Arsenal predicted XI in Man City Community Shield clash as Arteta faces headache
Arsenal get their competitive campaign underway when they face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday afternoon.
The one-off game, which acts as the curtain-raiser for the new season, typically pits the Premier League winners against the FA Cup champions. However, as City won both trophies last term, Arsenal have been drafted in as their opponents after finishing second, five points behind Pep Guardiola's side in the top-flight.
Mikel Arteta's men finished pre-season with a penalty shootout win over Monaco in the Emirates Cup on Wednesday, with Eddie Nketiah scoring in the 1-1 draw after normal time. It ended a mixed pre-season schedule for the Gunners, which included the 5-3 victory over Barcelona and a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United.
But all the focus for Arsenal will now be on the Community Shield and it is safe to say Arteta has a major selection dilemma ahead of the fixture. Several players have given the Gunners boss a headache after impressive performances in pre-season, although the one spot that is relatively nailed on is the goalkeeper position.
Aaron Ramsdale is set to start for the Gunners against City with Matt Turner heavily linked with a move to Nottingham Forest. David Raya is being lined-up as a replacement for the United States international, but Arsenal did see a £23million bid immediately rejected by Brentford for the Spaniard.
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Aaron Ramsdale is set to start in net against Manchester City (Getty Images)Moving into defence and Ben White could start at right-back - a position which he shone in last season. This would leave Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back, as Oleksandr Zinchenko is still out injured. After playing in that role against Monaco, Timber is likely to start the Community Shield.
At centre-back, Gabriel and William Saliba are set to reunited after Jakub Kiwior started against Monaco. Gabriel and Saliba have not played in a competitive match together since March when the latter suffered an injury in the penalty shootout defeat against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League.
Midfield is where Arteta faces his biggest dilemma. Thomas Partey is surely going to start in defensive midfield, but who will be the two alongside him? Declan Rice could be handed his first competitive appearance for the Gunners, with Martin Odegaard just in front as the no.10.
Declan Rice could be in Mikel Arteta's XI against Manchester City (Getty Images)Kai Havertz is pushing to start, but the German can also play up front. Arteta is facing a tough decision about whether to stick with Eddie Nketiah or opt with the ex-Chelsea star in the no.9 role. Gabriel Jesus and Folarin Balogun are both expected to miss the game, with Jesus out for at least the next couple of weeks.
Bukayo Saka is set to come back into the starting XI on the right wing after being named on the bench against Monaco, and like up front, Arteta has a selection headache on the left. Will he opt to go for Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli - both of which have impressed in recent weeks?
Arsenal predicted XI: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Nketiah, Trossard
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