After what seems like a long break from official football in England, we’re back in action this weekend with the FA Community Shield to kick off the new season. I am one of the few people who think this is a massive game and it is especially important that Arsenal make a statement in this game against Manchester City.
Arsenal lost both of their Premier League games against Manchester City last season. If they lose this game as well, they will go into the new season having lost three big games on the trot against their league rivals.
People say you can’t win the Premier League title at the start of the season, but I’ll tell you one thing – you can definitely lose it. You could be out of contention for the title in the first month and a half. If Arsenal make a statement here, they can go into the new season full of confidence. They have to make hay while the sun shines, and I think it’s a big game for them.
Manchester City’s greatest strength over the last five years has been the depth of their squad. They parted ways with Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez this summer and I think it’s a big gamble to get rid of them.
If Gundogan hadn’t started for Manchester City last season, I don’t think they would have won the league title. He scored the equalizer on the final day of the previous season to secure City’s title challenge. He scored some big goals for them. I’m a big fan of Mateo Kovacic, but I don’t think he can score the goals that Gundogan regularly scores.
Riyad Mahrez is another big name who has scored important goals for Man City. I’m shocked they let Kyle Walker go too. They are a better defensive team when he plays, and he still has a lot to offer. His departure would definitely weaken the team.
These departures have now brought other teams much closer to Manchester City. If Rasmus Hojlund can get going and score goals for Man United right from the start, it will be hard to predict a title race. The gap has narrowed not only between Arsenal and Manchester City, but also between other big names in the Premier League.
Manchester City vs Arsenal: TV Channel and Live Streaming
Argentina: Star+, ESPN Argentina
Australia: Paramount+
Bangladesh: SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 2 HD, Sony LIV
Belgium: DAZN Belgium, Play Sports, Eleven Sports 1 Belgium
Brazil: GUIGO, NOW NET and Claro, Star+, ESPN
Canada: Sportsnet Now, Sportsnet World, Sportsnet World Now, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet Now Plus
Denmark: Viaplay Denmark, See, TV3+ HD
Egypt: beIN Sports Premium 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, TOD, beIN Sports English
France: Free, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports 1
Germany: DAZN, DAZN1
Ghana: SuperSport MaXimo 2, SuperSport MaXimo 1, SuperSport GOtv Football, SuperSport Premier League ROA, DStv Now
Greece: Cosmote Sport 1 HD
India: JioTV, Sony LIV, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY TEN 2
Ireland: Premier Sports 1, Premier Player HD, ITV 1 UK, STV Scotland, ITVX
Israel: Sports 1
Italy: DAZN
Jamaica: ESPN Caribbean, ESPN Play Caribbean
Kenya: SuperSport GOtv Football, SuperSport Premier League ROA, DStv Now, SuperSport MaXimo 2, SuperSport MaXimo 1
Malaysia: Astro Go, sooka, Astro Supersport 4
Mexico: ESPN Mexico, Star+
Morocco: beIN Sports English, TOD, beIN Sports Premium 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Netherlands: Ziggo Sport Voetbal
Nigeria: SuperSport MaXimo 1, SuperSport MaXimo 2, SuperSport GOtv Football, SuperSport Premier League Nigeria, DStv Now
Norway: Viaplay Norway, TV3+ Norway
Poland: Viaplay Poland, Eleven Sports 1 Poland
Portugal: Sport TV Multiscreen, Sport TV1
Saudi Arabia: TOD, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Singapore: 111 mio Sports 1, meWATCH
South Africa: DStv App, SuperSport MaXimo 2, SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport GOtv Football, SuperSport MaXimo 1, Maximo 360
Spain: DAZN, Movistar+, DAZN 2
Sweden: Viaplay Sweden, V Sport Premium
Switzerland: DAZN
United Arab Emirates: TOD, beIN Sports Premium 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports English
United Kingdom: STV Scotland, STV Player, ITV 1 UK, ITVX
USA: ESPN+
