Home Football InternationalArsenal target Community Shield glory as Arteta demands strong start against Man City

Arsenal target Community Shield glory as Arteta demands strong start against Man City

Aug 14, 2026 03:04 PM GMT+00:00

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Arsenal target Community Shield glory as Arteta demands strong start against Man City

Arsenal will look to begin the 2026/27 season with silverware when they face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta insisting his players are ready to start the campaign at full intensity.

The Premier League champions will meet FA Cup winners Manchester City in the traditional season curtain-raiser in Cardiff, with Arsenal hoping to build on their successful domestic campaign.

Arteta says the mood around the squad has been particularly positive during pre-season, with the Arsenal manager encouraged by the fitness and motivation levels of his players.

Arteta wants Arsenal at their best

Arsenal ended last season by finally winning the Premier League title, ending a 22-year wait for the club's next league championship. However, their campaign also contained disappointment in Europe after they lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

That combination has given Arsenal extra motivation heading into the new season, according to Arteta. The Spaniard believes his players understand the importance of starting strongly and want to immediately add another trophy to the club's collection.

Arteta has challenged Arsenal to produce their best performance against City rather than treating the Community Shield simply as a pre-season fixture.

Arsenal arrive with renewed hunger

The Arsenal manager has been impressed with how quickly his squad returned to training following the summer break. Several players reportedly returned earlier than expected, while the club's testing programme showed that the squad was in strong physical condition.

Arteta believes that early commitment is a positive sign as Arsenal prepare for another demanding campaign. The Community Shield will provide the first competitive test of the new season and give Arsenal an opportunity to measure themselves against one of the Premier League's strongest teams.

New signings add competition

Arsenal have also strengthened their squad during the summer transfer window, bringing additional competition for places. Among the notable arrivals is Bruno Guimarães, who joined from Newcastle United. The club have also added Christos Tzolis and goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

The additions are expected to increase competition across the squad as Arsenal attempt to defend their Premier League title while competing on multiple fronts.

Arsenal were also linked with Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, but the Brazil international ultimately decided to extend his stay at the Spanish club. Arteta did not discuss individual transfer targets but confirmed that Arsenal remain focused on improving the squad.

Arsenal aiming for another step forward

Winning the Community Shield would give Arsenal an early opportunity to demonstrate that last season's Premier League triumph was the beginning of a new era rather than an isolated success.

Arteta has already identified areas where the squad can improve, while competition for places is expected to increase following the summer recruitment drive.

The Arsenal manager wants his team to reach maximum intensity immediately, with Sunday's match against Manchester City offering a difficult but valuable opening test. For Arsenal, the objective is clear: start the new season with a trophy and carry the momentum of their Premier League triumph into another title challenge.