Match Day Thread Arsenal vs. Manchester City: FA Community Shield Official Match Thread

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Venue: Wembley Stadium
10 August 2014
KO Time: 15:00 BST

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Head to Head Against Manchester City:
Played: 177
Wins: 88
Draws: 41
Losses: 48
Goals For: 289
Goals Against: 207
Goal Difference: 82

Last 6 Meetings:
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
Manchester City 6-3 Arsenal
Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City
Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City
Manchester City 0-1 Arsenal

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Starting XI:

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Bench:
Martinez
Monreal
Flamini
Campbell
Rosicky
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Giroud

Match Preview:
Arsenal and Manchester City set to go Head-to-Head in what will be an interesting preamble to the upcoming Premier League season. While often referred to as a glorified friendly, this year's Community Shield will be one to watch as both Arsène Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini will want to gauge how both their teams would fare against a title rival. Arsenal enter this iteration of the Community Shield in relatively high spirits having being buoyed by the marquee signing of Alexis Sánchez as well as additions in personnel in the form of Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers, and David Ospina and the return of loanee Joel Campbell. However question marks still surround the Gunners' in the area of Center-Back, with news speculating the departure of captain Thomas Vermaelen, and Defensive/Holding Midfielder. City meanwhile have had a more low key summer with additions such as former Arsenal Right-Back Bacary Sagna, Goalkeeper Willy Caballero, and Defensive Midfielder Fernando. That being said, those players will be key squad depth options for City's already extensive squad and the title holders will be hoping that bolstering their squad options will lead them to a successful league retention. Both teams come in missing some players due to lack of match fitness, injuries, and World Cup vacations but should still have enough firepower for an intriguing contest.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City

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Full Time: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City
Cazorla, 21
Ramsey, 42
Giroud, 61

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So yeah it'd be nice if this gets stickied. I'll do a match preview/mini-essay later.

 

Stikieikied

You need to add the date and KO time ...

 

Happy now

 

I agree with your predicted team but I would rather see Campbell play on the left over cazorla but I don't see it happening. Cazorla instead of rosicky perhaps although I think rosicky seemed to have more energy at the emirates cup.

 

Good thread btw, builds the excitement nicely for Sunday even if it is a glorified friendly.

 

It would be nice if the badges were a bit bigger

 

I'd put Campbell on the left and Cazorla just behind the front three. Ox is looking really good on the right and Walcott could be in for a fight for that position this season.

 

I have a feeling Wenger will opt for the more experienced Cazorla on the left and Rozza in the middle. I have a feeling Campbell will feature as well.

 

I agree with that but Campbell, Sanchez and the ox would be dangerous against Man city. Some serious pace there. As much as I don't want to admit it but we could learn something from Liverpool's front 3 last season, Suarez, sturridge and sterling. No big man there, just pure pace and quality. That is what we should be recreating except with our superior midfield and defence we can be better than they were.

 

I agree with this, turn them around and get City defenders and midfield facing their own goal. I'd like to see us play some pacy and direct attacking football rather than slow build up in the final third. The danger of the counter is always there otherwise and that's exactly how we lost in the big games last season.

 

I think Sanogo could be pushing for a place after hiss last performance. Plus Giroud is lacking fitness.

I'm not sure our system works without a target man. If Alexis plays as the CF I think the formation needs a change.

 

Going by last weekend's games, Giroud, Cazorla, Arteta and Wilshere all lacked match fitness, so if they still can't get full fitness, I would bench all of them and play Sanogo, OXO, Flamini and Rosicky instead. For me this is an important game and playing players that are lacking match fitness will be a bad idea against a very good Man City.

 

Write up/preview added

 

I had previously really been looking forward to this match but with several players missing it's not going to be the full strength battle of the giants game I was hoping for!

Still it's ushering in the new season and even if it's just the community shield it's still silver!

 

Honestly I see this game as any other friendly. I am not fussed. If we have players who don't have match fitness, play them. The game will be competitive and will do a lot of good for those players who have struggled to get match fitness (really surprised by how few pre season friendlies we have played).

 

Woohoo!!! It's been awhile...

 

This is where i disagree with posters that think this game isn't important, of course it is. If we intend to to challenge for the title then we need to give the winners Man City a good game. We can't just rock up to the game and think it means nothing and then get a spanking. That would send all the wrong signals and hit our morale.

 

We can lose this game and write it off as pre season, but can't be a trouncing. Don;t want to be going into the season fearing the worst in every big game again

 

Not one winning side would take any competitive game as a pre-season friendly. Never did a Fergie or Maureen team take the Charity Shield lightly and neither should we. Play our best team and give it our best. Above all, avoid a trouncing!