Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

On Sunday, the first piece of silverware of the season will be contested for in Cardiff as Premier League champions Arsenal face FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield.

The omens look good for Arsenal. Only Manchester United (21) have won the Community Shield more often than they have (17, including shared), with the Gunners winning each of their past five.

Arsenal have also won all three matches when competing as reigning Premier League champions (1998, 2002, 2004).

Manchester City did win their last appearance in the Community Shield, beating rivals Manchester United on penalties in 2024. However, they have been runners-up in the match nine times, with only United doing so more (10).

Arsenal have won all three of their Community Shield matches against City, beating them 4-0 in 1934, 3-0 in 2014 and, most recently, 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2023.

However, Enzo Maresca, who will become to the first City boss to compete in the Community Shield in his first competitive match in charge, can draw some hope in the fact that in the past 10 occasions the game has been between the league champions and the FA Cup winners, the FA Cup holders have won eight times.

The two teams will compete at Millennium Stadium - a ground where Arsenal played more games than any other team during the period it was first used between 2001 and 2007 (10) and won four Community Shields in that time.

In contrast, this is just City's second ever match at the Welsh stadium, with the other coming in a Uefa Cup qualifying match against TNS in August 2003 (a 2-0 win).

Mikel Arteta won both of his Community Shield matches as a player (2014, 2015), and has won both so far as a manager (2020, 2023), while it is Maresca's first taste of the season curtain-raiser.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta would not be drawn on the speculation around Myles Lewis-Skelly's future.

The 19-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Gunners in the last couple of days with Manchester United and Chelsea two of the sides reported to have been offered the midfielder.

Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring in the 1-1 draw with Como at Emirates Stadium and made a heart gesture towards all sides of the crowd.

"He's a very emotional player." Arteta said when asked about the celebration.

"Remember when he did all the gestures on the pitch?

"I am not going to talk about any speculation. If there is any speculation about our players it is a good sign, it means we attract attention and they are doing a good job."

The Gunners boss was then asked about the bond between supporters and players who come through the club's academy.

"Well its a natural thing to happen - we have seen it with many other players here," Arteta said.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal drew 1-1 with Serie A side Como in their final pre-season friendly before winning 4-3 in a pre-agreed penalty shootout.

Manager Mikel Arteta described the match as "a really good test" before facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Arteta said: "I think what we generated in the game, probably the scoreline should have been different, and that's the part that, in my opinion, we have to improve, because otherwise I think there were a lot of positives to take from the game."

The Arsenal manager was full of praise for winger Ethan Nwaneri who has performed well in pre-season after spending the last campaign on loan at Marseille.

"He's been really good. Probably what happened on the field, on his loan in Marseille, wasn't what was expected. There was a lot of noise and change around the club," said the Spaniard.

"But he looks different. He looks more mature. He's incredible at that. It's what six months can do to you.

"It's a different experience on board to be on your own, to go through tough times and just to witness that there's another part of football that you have to be good enough to cope with. I'm very happy with what he's done in pre-season."

New signing Bruno Guimaraes made his debut for the Gunners and Arteta was asked whether the Brazilian midfielder could start at the weekend.

"He only had three training sessions, but he looked good," said Arteta. "He was really pushing to play some minutes today.

"I think he wanted to get his debut and the feeling of playing in front of our fans immediately. And, yes, you sense immediately, I believe, a strong connection at play that is going to make us better."

Galatasaray have submitted a 45m euros bid (£38.4m) to Arsenal for Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli. (Florian Plettenberg), external

The Gunners are open to selling Martin Zubimendi for at least £77m, with Chelsea a strong contender to sign the Spain midfielder. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

It is common practice these days for transfer fees to have performance-based add-ons. The theory is the selling club gains more if the player goes on to be extremely successful, while the buying club is to some extent protected financially if the transfer doesn't work out.

In some cases, the total value of add-ons is significant - Real Madrid could end up paying an extra £30m to Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham depending on how successful he is over the course of his career in the Spanish capital, for example.

In others, like the potential £1.7m worth of add-ons Brighton's £29.78m signing of Greece Under-21 forward Charalampos Kostoulas, are less significant.

Clubs sometimes say add-ons are 'easily achievable' or 'difficult'.

Easier-to-achieve add-ons can include things like making a basic number of appearances, or scoring a certain amount of goals. Add-ons can also be attached to a team's success rather than the individual player's - a club may agree to an add-on requiring an extra payment if they qualify for Europe, for example.

Others can be more ambitious - tied to extreme levels of individual or collective success, like winning the Champions League or the Ballon d'Or.

An example of the difficulty add-ons can present when discussing valuations would be the claims made in the Portuguese media in 2022 that the first additional payment in Darwin Nunez's £64m-plus-add-ons move from Benfica to Liverpool was triggered by the Uruguayan making just 10 appearances.

Then Liverpool boss Arne Slot rejected speculation he had not started Nunez in some games because it would trigger an additional payment.

Whether Liverpool paid more for Nunez, or club captain Virgil van Dijk - for whom they paid a flat fee of £75m to Southampton in 2017 - cannot be determined without knowing exactly what add-ons were included in the Nunez deal, then figuring out which conditions he has and has not met.

Send our reporters a questions via Ask Me Anything

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal are reigniting their interest in Aston Villa central defender Ezri Konsa.

Konsa, 28, is still on holiday after the World Cup and is not with the Villa squad for Wednesday's Super Cup game against Paris St-Germain.

The Gunners' initial summer move for Konsa did not materialise, with the London club only willing to pay in the region of £30m for the England international who is valued at £60m by Villa.

Konsa played 48 games in all competitions last season for Aston Villa, winning the Europa League.

Arsenal accept they will need to significantly improve their original offer if they are to be successful in their efforts to land Konsa but whether Villa are willing to let the defender leave for a fee under their valuation remains to be seen.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport the Gunners have also held exploratory talks with Tottenham over a potential move for their club captain Cristian Romero.

Spurs are thought to have no intention of selling the 28-year-old to Arsenal given the intense rivalry between the two north London clubs.

But that has not prevented Arsenal from making enquiries into what would be one of the most surprising transfers of the summer window.

Image source, Getty Images

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey thinks turbulence in the Premier League can prove significant in the Gunners competing to defend their title next season.

Mikel Arteta's side have enjoyed relative stability off the field and have added a key player in Bruno Guimaraes in a bid to bolster their midfield.

But widespread managerial changes - including at their traditional competitors - are on show elsewhere, introducing a degree of uncertainty for clubs.

Speaking to a news conference as part of his new role as Oxford United head coach, Ramsey said: "It's absolutely brilliant that Arsenal have gone on to win the Premier League. I think what Mikel Arteta has done over the last few years has been remarkable.

"You can see that building, that confidence. The team looked ready last year to take that final step. It was a brilliant season for them and going so deep in the other competitions as well sets them up nicely now to really attack not just next season but the next few years. I think they have that stability there as well, where there's been so much change in the Premier League at this moment in time.

"So yes, I think that'll add to them and be a strength for them to go on and compete definitely this season."

Chelseaand Manchester Unitedhave been offered the chance to sign England midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenalcould be tempted into selling the 19-year-old after the arrival of Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes, 28, from Newcastle. (Football London, external)

Napoli are exploring a deal for Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus but Arsenal will only consider selling the 29-year-old if offers begin at 20m euros. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Myles Lewis-Skelly wants to stay at Arsenal and is focused on working to try to establish himself as a first team regular at the club.

The 19-year-old ended the season in excellent form and helped Arsenal over the line as they won their first Premier League title in 22 years.

However, his performances have attracted attention from elsewhere with reports suggesting that Chelsea are interested in him.

His position in the Arsenal first team is also under threat after the arrival of midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for £75m.

Lewis-Skelly signed a five-year-deal last summer after an excellent breakthrough campaign and has started the last two pre-season friendlies as the Gunners prepare for the Community Shield against Manchester City on Sunday.

Arsenal are looking to sell before the transfer window closes with the club aware that they have to be flexible in the market.

Football in this era is as much about the business as it is about the game on the pitch and, with Lewis-Skelly an academy graduate, if the club were to sell him he would present "pure profit" in the club's accounts.

That fact is something that Lewis-Skelly is aware of, writing the caption "pure profit" on a picture of himself with the Premier League trophy when Arsenal celebrated the title at Selhurst Park on the final day of last season.

The club had considered listening to offers for Lewis-Skelly, but his excellent end to last season in his preferred central midfield position has been noted and that may have sparked a rethink over his status this summer.

Lewis-Skelly's excellent breakthrough campaign saw him rewarded with a call up to the England team and he has made six appearances for his country.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal issued nine football banning orders and stadium bans during the 2025-26 season for offences including assault, racism, antisemitism, homophobia and other abusive or intimidating behaviour.

The sanctions range between one to three years, during which those banned will not be allowed to attend Arsenal matches.

In addition, the club is assisting the police with a further 13 investigations into alleged offences which have taken place either at Emirates Stadium or online.

The bans are broken down as follows:

• Three bans for assault

• Three bans for racism

• One ban for antisemitism

• One ban for homophobia

• One ban for antisocial behaviour

A club statement, external read: "During the 2025-26 season, we verified more than 17,700 posts and comments as abusive directed at individuals and accounts connected to us.

"This is a significant increase on the previous season."

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham and Arsenal are in talks about a potential move for winger Reiss Nelson.

Both a loan move and a permanent departure are being discussed and the 26-year-old is into the last year of his contract at Arsenal.

Nelson has spent the last two seasons on loan at Fulham and Brentford and is not in manager Mikel Arteta's plans for this season.

The winger was an unused substitute in Arsenal's 3-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund in their friendly on Sunday.

West Ham are looking to strengthen their squad as they look to get out of the Championship at the first time of asking but it remains to be seen if Nelson can be convinced to drop down to that division.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

One big signing missed and one through the doors - it's been a mixed transfer window for Arsenal.

The Gunners were unsuccessful in what turned out to be a very public pursuit of Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr but did manage to bring in fellow Brazilian and Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes for £75m.

The signing of Guimaraes is another of the "win now" signings like Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres last summer as he immediately raises the level and competition of the Arsenal squad.

Manager Mikel Arteta was asked if Arsenal supporters can expect more signings before the deadline and said: "Well, that's what we're trying to do. If we have the right player in the market to make us much better."

For Arsenal it is hard to find any winger who would bring the excitement levels as well as the elite numbers that Vinicius Jr can.

So what other options do the club and sporting director Andrea Berta have?

Kenan Yildiz is one player from Europe who is on Arsenal's list in a hunt for a left winger.

The 21-year-old had an impressive 2025-26 season for Juventus, scoring 11 goals and registering 10 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions.

The Turkey international can play across the frontline too which adds another dynamic that may make him appealing to Arteta.

Like all good wingers he is unpredictable and can go on either the inside or outside, which means it is hard for defenders to know if he is going to cross the ball or shoot.

And stats from Opta show that, of all players in Europe's top five leagues last season, only Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes (98) and Werder Bremen's Romano Schmid (77) created more open-play chances than Yildiz, while it was only Vinicius (43) who created more chances after carrying the ball than Yildiz too (37).

However, Yildiz has just signed a new four-year deal and sources indicate that Juventus are unwilling to sell him.

• Read more on Arsenal's summer business

Real Madrid are interested in signing World Cup-winning Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 25, from Premier League champions Arsenal. (Football.London, external)

Arsenaland Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus, 29, is open to a move to Napoli this summer. (La Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Italian side AS Roma have held initial talks with Gabriel Martinelli's representatives as they explore a move for the 25-year-old Arsenal and Brazil winger. (Mirror, external)

Bradley Barcola, 23, has given the green light to Liverpool despite Arsenal making a late move for the Paris St-Germain and France forward, who is valued at about £130m. (Sun, external)

West Hamare in talks with Arsenalto sign Reiss Nelson, the 26-year-old English winger who spent the past two seasons on loan at Brentfordand Fulham.(Standard, external)

Atletico Madrid have launched a bid of 35m euro (£30m) for Lille's21-year-old Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Liverpool. (L'Equipe - in French, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Howell has been answering some of the questions you have sent in about Arsenal's summer transfer window strategy.

Adam asked: Arsenal are heavily rumoured to be after a left winger following the Vinicius Jr saga, so who do you think will be most likely to sign for the club in that position before the end of the window?

Alex answered: It is a tough position to be in when the club have had such a public move for a player not come to fruition, and also when there are only a small number of players who can fit the bill of what Arsenal are looking for.

The Gunners want players who can take them to the next level and that is hard to find after winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final.

Bradley Barcola is of interest to Liverpool and would require a huge fee if Arsenal were to try to make that happen.

As the league season gets closer, it will be harder for Arsenal to get top players out of their clubs.

However the Gunners may not only look for a left winger, as a forward who can play in multiple positions could come in to bolster the frontline.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on how the signing of Bruno Guimaraes could evolve Mikel Arteta's style of play and where the deal takes your expectations.

Here are some of your comments:

Chinedu: As an Arsenal fan who has waited for 22 years to win the Premier League, the past 12 months has been phenomenal, both on and off the pitch. We have the best 11 players on the pitch and the best players on the bench in Europe. Bruno brings quality, bite and combativeness to our midfield, and Arsenal are now in a good position to retain the Premier League and win the Champions League for the first time.

Rachel: I've long been a fan of Bruno. He should give us a stronger edge, a bit more steel in midfield. My only worry is that he is a leader, as is Declan Rice. Hopefully that won't create a clash and these two can form a telepathic relationship. Two midfield maestros in action, I can't wait!

Neil: Very excited, but I hope that he can change something in the way we use Viktor Gyokeres. Get it to him quickly, without recycling and slowing things down. We have a 30+ goals-a-season man if we use him correctly.

Ola: Not sure about this, but Arteta knows what he needs so it's all good. It will support the development of an even more solid defence I think and will take some pressure off Rice. Midfield looks awesome.

Philippe: Imagine the control in midfield with a diamond shape of Odegaard, Rice, Bruno, and Zubimendi/Lewis-Skelly. Against less offensive teams I could also see Bruno taking up number six responsibilities or a 2-3-1 with Rice and Bruno at the base. Or even Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi and Bruno when we really want to lock down a lead. The options feel endless!

John: Bruno raises the level of our midfield in so many ways but crucially adds more goals and adaptability to styles of play we can use.

Arsenal have made contact with Bradley Barcola's camp as they bid to hijack Liverpool's move to sign the France forward, 23, from Paris St-Germain. (Give Me Sport), external

The Gunners and Tottenham showed an interest in Barcelona's Ferran Torres before the Spain forward, 26, agreed personal terms with Paris St-Germain. (TeamTalk), external

While Arsenal and Manchester United are among the clubs chasing Club Brugge's Belgium left-back Joaquin Seys, 21. (Sun), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport