ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Community Shield 2026

The setting may be a little unusual, but Sunday’s Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City still marks the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season, writes ALEX CROOK.

The fact Wembley has been booked for a gig by The Weeknd means Cardiff plays host to an intriguing clash that pits the Premier League champions and the FA Cup winners.

It is also a match-up between the top two in the betting in this season’s title race so offers both Mikel Arteta and new City boss Enzo Maresca an opportunity to land an early mental blow on their rival.

Maresca in particular will be keen to make an instant impact on the City fans having been tasked with the unenviable challenge of replacing the great Pep Guardiola.

However, only Manchester United have won this game more often than Arsenal while City are the perennial bridesmaids having been runners-up on no fewer than nine occasions.

The Gunners have also won their last three Community/Charity Shield games when going in as champions and they beat City on penalties at Wembley three years ago.

One positive for Maresca is that the FA Cup holders have a very impressive recent record, winning eight of the last ten renewals.

City will be without their midfield talisman Rodri, which is something they may have to get used to with Barcelona chasing his signature, who has only just returned from his World Cup Player of the Tournament exploits.

Arsenal are also affected by late returnees from North America and neither of England duo Bukayo Saka nor Declan Rice have played a single minute of pre-season.

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are also sidelined so Arteta has issues in his defence, which I think makes City favourites to end the Arsenal manager’s 100 per cent record in this fixture as player and manager.

Maresca’s men looked very sharp in their last pre-season friendly, beating Atletico Madrid by an impressive 3-1 scoreline courtesy of two Omar Marmoush goals.

City to win in 90 minutes at 13/8 with starsports.bet is my main selection.

Given his painful Wembley record, one player who should be delighted by the change of location to the Welsh capital is Erling Haaland.

The striking Viking was on fire for Norway at the World Cup and is a worthy favourite to claim yet another Premier League Golden Boot.

I will be throwing in Haaland to score at any time as part of my build-a-bet, along with a City win and under 3.5 cards and over 7.5 corners, which returns a decent 8.5/1 with starsports.bet.

At bigger odds of 7/1 with starsports.bet, I like Antoine Semenyo to score first.

The former Bournemouth man has proved time and again he is a big-game player and I am expecting another excellent season from him.

⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET FOOTBALL MARKETS ⭐️

---

RECOMMENDED BETS
1️⃣ BEST BET: Manchester City to win 1pt at 13/8 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🎲 LONG SHOT: Antoine Semenyo to score first 1pt at 7/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Manchester City to win, Erling Haaland to score, under 3.5 cards and over 7.5 corners 1pt at 8.5/1 with starsports.bet

---

(AUGUST 2026): PROFIT/LOSS: +75.39 points

---

STAR PROMOTIONS