Football season is nearly upon us, Manchester City face Arsenal in the traditional season opener, the FA Community Shield.
The season opener will see last season’s Premier League champions take on the runners-up for the league title. Traditionally the contest is last season’s league winner against the FA Cup winner, but with City holding both crowns, league runner-up Arsenal is Sunday’s opponent.
Last season the two sides battled it out for the Premier League title. With 9 games to go in the season, Arsenal held an 8-point lead at the top of the table. Eventually, the Gunners would be overhauled by Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Along the way to reigning in Arsenal, the treble winners would do the league double over Mikel Arteta’s squad. The wins were added to a fourth-round FA Cup tie victory over the Gunners.
Those results would continue City’s recent domination of Arsenal. The Premier League champions have currently won 12 consecutive games over the Gunners, by an aggregate score of 33-5. It’s been a one-sided rivalry since the winning run began.
Sunday’s Community Shield presents Manchester City with an opportunity to maintain their stranglehold over Arsenal. A win would signal that the treble winners intend to keep Arteta’s men at arm’s length again this season.
Arsenal would likely see the game as a golden opportunity to finally end City’s streak and make a statement of their own. With the additions of Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, the Gunners have strengthened their squad to attempt to go one better than last season.
The season’s curtain raiser while usually viewed as a friendly, could have large implications for the season ahead.
