sport news MONOPOLY CITY: Arsenal are out to halt Pep Guardiola and Manchester City's ... trends now
It is an annual tradition, the debate surrounding the merit or otherwise of the Community Shield. This year, however, its significance should not be underplayed. If Manchester City win, they will maintain their quest to create a unique piece of football history.
Already in possession of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, Pep Guardiola and his players have the chance to hold every available trophy come the final days of winter.
That would be achieved by beating Arsenal at Wembley tomorrow, defeating Sevilla in the Super Cup later this month, returning victorious from the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia in December and then, back at Wembley on February 25, reclaiming the Carabao Cup that currently resides across town at Old Trafford. That means just nine matches stand between City and a capacity trophy cabinet.
It would be the ultimate show of might for their Abu Dhabi owners, at a time when a growing band of state-funded rivals are trying to buy their share of the silver.
To that end, it starts here, against opponents who are worried less about the prestige of a shiny shield and more the psychological gain of putting City to the sword.
Arsenal's stars will be hoping to cause an upset and disrupt a potential clean sweep for City
The Citizens completed an impressive Treble last season and will be looking to build on that
Pep Guardiola's side have the chance to make history by holding all seven trophies next year
The last eight matches between these clubs have been a bloodbath, soaked in the red of Arsenal. Eight defeats, all under the charge of Mikel Arteta, and at an aggregate score of 21-4. The last of those, a 4-1 dismantling at the Etihad in April, was described by Mail Sport as: ‘An execution by City’s firing squad.’
Another City win and it would feel like confirmation of their superiority over the team who again look best equipped to challenge them this season. Arsenal should be motivated by that assumption of inferiority, of being the submissive also-rans. They are, remember, only playing in this fixture by virtue of finishing second in the Premier League.
That is why this game matters — it is a chance to land a pre-bout blow. The damage inflicted on the losers could well have a bearing when the bell sounds next weekend. Forget minutes in the legs — the modern player has hours of those banked over the summer — tomorrow will be informative.
Mail Sport columnist Martin Keown used to laugh at Sir Alex Ferguson’s reaction to the result of the Community Shield. If Manchester United won, it showed how well prepared they were for the season. If they lost, he would claim it was insignificant. Given United lifted the Shield 10 times under Fergie, you can guess which of those he believed to be true.
The recent Premier League Summer Series in the United States has also shown that there is no such
