Arteta’s side have their sights set on dethroning City as they look to avenge last season’s painful collapse in the title race in tomorrow’s FA Community shield game
Fuelled by a spending spree of England midfielder Declan Rice, Germany forward Kai Havertz and Dutch defender Jurrien Timber, Arsenal have an early opportunity to show they are equipped to end City’s three-year reign as champions.
Arsenal finished five points behind Pep Guardiola’s men despite holding an eight-point lead in April and Gunners boss Arteta knows this weekend’s glamor friendly at Wembley offers an opportunity to lay down a marker.
This will be the third Community Shield meeting between Arsenal and Manchester City, with the Gunners winning the previous two – 4-0 at Highbury in 1934 and 3-0 at Wembley Stadium in 2014.
City have won 16 of their 19 matches against Arsenal under Pep Guardiola (D1 L2), though both defeats came in games at Wembley (2017 and 2020 FA Cup semi-finals).