Arsenal are up against Manchester City in the curtain raiser of the 2026-27 season as the two teams face in the FA Community Shield encounter on Sunday (August 16).

Arsenal have named a strong starting XI for the FA Community Shield against Manchester City at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 16 August 2026, but two of their biggest stars began the match among the substitutes. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were left on the bench as Mikel Arteta prioritised squad management and recovery.

Arsenal Lineup vs Man City

Raya; White, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori; Lewis-Skelly, Guimarães, Ødegaard; Madueke, Tzolis, Havertz.

Why is Saka, Rice not Starting Today?

The main reason for their absence from the starting eleven was their late return to club duty after England’s 2026 World Cup campaign. Both players only resumed full training with Arsenal earlier in the week following mandatory post-tournament rest. Neither had played a single minute of pre-season football.

Arteta confirmed their availability at his pre-match press conference: “They will be available. They trained with us today, they will train tomorrow. If they are in the condition we expect them to be, they will be involved.”

Fitness concerns also played a role. Saka had managed an Achilles issue towards the end of last season and during the tournament, while Rice dealt with hamstring-related neural pain and other niggles. Arteta noted that the rest period had helped, yet he remained cautious about increasing their workload too quickly.

Tactically, the decision allowed Arteta to give starts to players who had completed pre-season, including Myles Lewis-Skelly, and to integrate new signings such as Bruno Guimarães and Christos Tzolis.

Saka and Rice’s presence on the bench still offered high-quality options to change the game later. Their gradual reintegration is designed to ensure they reach peak condition for Arsenal’s Premier League title defence. The duo will are on the bench and may be summoned in the second half.