Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday with Mikel Arteta about to discover whether his Premier League champions are ready to go again.
Arsenal vs Man City is officially the curtain-raiser to the new domestic season, but for Arteta it could provide an early answer to a much bigger question.
Last season ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title. Arsenal had finished runners-up in each of the previous three campaigns before finally reaching the summit, creating an enormous physical and emotional release.
Now they have to start again.
As The Guardian highlighted in its Community Shield analysis, the challenge for Arsenal is no longer proving they can become champions. It is showing they possess the hunger to stay there.
🗣️ Mikel Merino on whether he sees the Community Shield against Man City as a friendly:
“No chance. There are no friendlies here.
“It's not only because it's a trophy, but also because it's a game where Arsenal play.
“Every time we play as Arsenal players, we know how… pic.twitter.com/Y3JVDCKDeZ
— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) August 13, 2026
Arsenal title defence begins with a different challenge
Arteta spent years trying to turn Arsenal from challengers into winners.
Winning changed the question.
Every opponent now begins the season wanting to beat the champions, while Arsenal have had a particularly difficult summer in which several major players went deep into the World Cup.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were among those given extended breaks, while William Saliba remains unavailable after suffering a back injury during the tournament.
There was therefore significant encouragement when ReadArsenal reported that Saka and Rice returned to full training before the Manchester City game.
Arteta has confirmed that Saka, Rice and Martin Zubimendi are available on Sunday, although none enjoyed a conventional pre-season. That makes the balance between competitive sharpness and physical protection one of Arsenal’s biggest early challenges.
Arteta has new weapons but familiar problems
Arsenal are not standing still.
Bruno Guimaraes has strengthened the midfield, Christos Tzolis offers another attacking option and several younger players have benefited from additional pre-season minutes.
Yet the defensive situation remains unresolved.
Saliba is out and Jurrien Timber still needs several weeks before returning fully, which explains why Arsenal have explored another defensive signing.
ReadArsenal reported that talks have taken place over Jarell Quansah as Arteta looks for greater security at the back.
Sunday should offer a useful indication of whether those absences are already affecting the champions.
Manchester City are entering their own period of change under Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s departure, meaning neither side should be judged too heavily on one August afternoon.
But Arsenal’s situation is different from a year ago.
They no longer arrive needing proof that Arteta’s project can win the Premier League.
The challenge now is demonstrating that finally reaching the top has made Arsenal hungrier rather than satisfied.
The Community Shield will not decide the title race, but it may provide the first clue.
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