Kick off almost here as the first half approaches. The teams are out and the National Anthem is belted around Wembley.
Football is back following a long, long summer.
With lost of transfer business for both sides, the teams look different from last season.
Here’s how the two teams line-up for the Community Shield:
Your first City XI of 23/24 👊
XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker (C), Stones, Dias, Akanji, Rodrigo, Kovacic, Bernardo, Grealish, Alvarez, Haaland
SUBS | Ederson, Phillips, Laporte, De Bruyne, Gomez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/tEUjG2vhyq
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 6, 2023
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
All three summer signings start – Come on you Gunners! ✊ pic.twitter.com/UpXea0E7sQ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 6, 2023
1′: Arsenal kick-off and get the game underway. The Blues win the ball back from the Gunner and Alvarez wins a free-kick in the City half.
2′: Arsenal are pressing high which forces Ortega to go long to Haaland. However, he is outnumbered up top and Arsenal win the ball back temporarily.
3′: Akanji flies down the left flank carrying the ball with him but he is brought down by Odegaard. Manchester City continue to dominate possession in the early stages.
4′: CHANCE! Akanji again pushing forward down the left and gets into the box and manages to get a cross off. It’s just too high for anyone to control and Arsenal manage to clear the danger following more City pressing. City are pushing for the opener.
6′: Kovacic with some lovely sportsman ship after he puts the ball out for Arsenal’s new signing to put his boot back on – a reminder that this is a friendly.
7′: YELLOW CARD! Partey booked by Atwell following a foul and a tantrum.
9′: Arsenal win back possession and hold the ball for longer than they have previously managed so far. Saka out paces Akanji however, he sees out the danger with strength and focus.
10′: Now ten minutes in and the Blues continue to dominate possession in the first half.
11′: A lovely ball out wide from Rodri to Bernardo on the right who plays it short to Walker on the right side of the box, but he is unable to find anyone with his scuffed low cross.
13′: CHANCE! Rodri takes a shot from outside the box after the Blues win it back from Arsenal. However, the chance is saved and City win a corner. Arsenal see out the danger, but it’s back with City as they keep pushing for the opener.
16′: Stones gives the ball away in the middle of the pitch and Rodri is forced to make a foul. During the aftermath Mikel Arteta is booked following a tantrum in the technical area.
18′: CHANCE! Alvarez with a shot from distance that goes wide. Following which Bernardo plans a tough challenge on Declan Rice – welcome to the top six!
19′: Akanji bombing down the left again like a seasoned winger and linking up well with Grealish. He gets his cross in but Arsenal are there to defend.
20′: Arsenal on the attack as they glide through City with pace. A real show of pace vs control.
24′: CHANCE! Arsenal create through Ben White from the right side a they get a couple of shots away but Johnny Stones and Walker are there to block the shots.
25′: YELLOW CARD! Havertz booked for a foul on Stones and Arteta has steam coming out of his ears.
30′: Ramsdale gets himself into a spot of bother as his mis-controls the ball in front of his goal and Haaland almost gets there before him.
31′: Arsenal win a corner through an Ortega error. City clear.
33′: Arsenal are seeing more possession as they grow in confidence around City’s penalty area. They win another corner. It’s taken by Martinelli, however it’s far too deep and swings out of play.
31′: A lovely ball by Partey out wide to Saka. He takes his shot early and is wide of the post.
36′: Ortega looks extremely uncomfortable on the ball under pressure, and Arsenal smell blood as they press high.
37′: Manchester City are looking sloppy in possession after all the control earlier in the first half. Arsenal are now able to string some passes together an drag the Blues across the pitch.
39′: CHANCE! Ortega saves a shot as Arsenal find a way to penetrate the City defence. It is now the Gunners pushing for the opening goal.
42′: Stunning footwork from Bernardo Silva as he closes in on the Arsenal box though can’t find a way through the opposition defence.
43′: CHANCE! Rodri sees Ramsdale off his line and tries his luck but it’s just too high and the opposition keeper is lucky to see it over the crossbar.
44′: Alvarez gets the ball down the right side completely outpacing and out strengthening Martinelli. He fizzes a cross past the goal to the back post but Gabriel is there to prevent the cross reaching Haaland.
45′: +3 additional minutes.
47′: Kovacic drives forward into the Arsenal box and it takes four defenders to slow him down and nick the ball back.
48′: HALF TIME! The first half ends all square at 0-0.
