With just six days remaining until the 2014/15 season gets up and running, City and Arsenal go head-to-head for the Community Shield this afternoon. As expected, both side’s starting line-ups have been heavily influenced by a lack of pre-season action for a number of World Cup stars, though Arsene Wenger hands all three of his main summer signings competitive debuts:
Man City Starting XI: Caballero; Clichy, Boyata, Nastasic, Kolarov; Navas, Fernando, Toure, Nasri; Jovetic, Dzeko
Arsenal Starting XI: Szczesny; Debuchy, Koscielny, Chambers, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere; Alexis, Ramsey, Cazorla; Sanogo
For City, Stevan Jovetic has the chance to continue the form which has harvested five goals over the summer so far. The Montenegro international is partnered by Edin Dzeko up top and, whilst the likes of Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure also make the XI, Arsenal will be optimistic of taking advantage of an experimental City backline, which sees Gael Clichy fielded as a right-back once again and Aleks Kolarov patrolling the left.
Arsene Wenger names Mathieu Debuchy and Callum Chambers in defence alongside Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs. Aaron Ramsey owners will be buoyed by what appears to be a move to the attacking midfield three alongside Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, with Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere sitting in front of the defence. Up front, Sanchez’ role out wide means Yaya Sanogo gets the nod after his four-goal demolition of Benfica in last week’s Emirates Cup, with Olivier Giroud warming the bench again.
