Mikel Arteta has several major decisions to make when Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield, with the Premier League champions finally able to welcome some of their World Cup stars back into contention.
Arsenal vs Man City arrives at an awkward point in Arteta’s preparation. Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi are available, but their limited pre-season workload leaves the manager balancing immediate silverware against the bigger Premier League campaign.
ReadArsenal’s predicted XI has Saka, Rice and Zubimendi all returning to the side, but none of those decisions is straightforward.
Here are the biggest calls Arteta faces in Cardiff.
Does Arteta risk Saka from the start?
Saka is fit enough to be involved after returning to full training, but Arsenal have little reason to take unnecessary risks with one of their most important players.
The winger arrived late into pre-season following England’s World Cup run and dealt with an Achilles problem last season.
Arteta could therefore turn to Noni Madueke initially before introducing Saka when the game opens up.
However, Arsenal are treating the Community Shield as silverware rather than another friendly. Starting Saka would immediately give Viktor Gyokeres the service and combination play Arsenal will want to develop before their title defence begins.
ReadArsenal reported on Saka and Rice’s return to full training after Arteta confirmed the returning internationals would be available if they completed their final preparations as expected.
Rice, Zubimendi or Guimaraes?
Midfield may contain Arteta’s most fascinating decision.
Rice and Zubimendi were fundamental to last season’s title success, but £75million signing Bruno Guimaraes has had more time in Arsenal’s pre-season environment and made his unofficial debut against Como.
Starting all three would require a significant reshuffle, particularly with Martin Odegaard expected to retain his place.
There is also an opportunity for Arsenal to take advantage of uncertainty in City’s midfield. Rodri’s fitness remains a question before the Community Shield, with the Spaniard only recently returning to training after surgery.
Arteta must decide whether familiarity or match sharpness offers Arsenal greater control.
Arsenal cannot hide their defensive weakness
William Saliba is unavailable and Jurrien Timber remains weeks away, leaving Arsenal without two defenders who would normally feature prominently in Arteta’s plans.
Gabriel Magalhaes should start, but the identity of his partner is less certain.
Cristhian Mosquera offers the more natural right-sided centre-back profile, while Piero Hincapie provides experience and the ability to shift between centre-back and full-back.
Manchester City’s pace and movement will immediately examine whichever combination Arteta chooses.
The Guardian’s Community Shield analysis argues that Sunday’s fixture will offer an early indication of how both sides have emerged from an unusual World Cup summer.
For Arsenal, the result is not the only interesting part.
Arteta finally has more of his title-winning squad available, but deciding how much of it to use immediately could shape Arsenal’s first competitive afternoon of the season.
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