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Arsenal vs Man City in Community Shield: Enzo Maresca vows to ‘close the gap’ on champions as Mikel Arteta says Man City boss is as good as Pep Guardiola

Arsenal meet Manchester City in the Community Shield in Cardiff on Sunday; Enzo Maresca takes over as City boss for the first time from Pep Guardiola - and wants to take on the Gunners in a title race; Mikel Arteta says his players are showing the hunger to win the season's first trophy

Enzo Maresca has revealed part of his intention in his first season as Manchester City boss is to "close the gap to Arsenal", after finishing seven points shy of the Premier League champions last term.

A first glimpse of how realistic that ambition is will be gleaned in the Community Shield on Sunday.

The Gunners have historically won all three of their Community Shield matches against City, with this weekend's heavyweight bout in Cardiff destined to be a precursor to the start of an intriguing new rivalry between Mikel Arteta and Maresca.

The fixture also signals the final countdown to the start of the Premier League proper, with Arsenal opening their campaign against Coventry five days later and City beginning two days after that vs Bournemouth - both live on Sky Sports.

According to Sky Sports' predictor, Arsenal are favourites to retain their crown, some four points clear of Man City. But there is renewed hunger from a different challenger to Pep Guardiola to disrupt those odds. Neither manager is likely to treat this introductory meeting, with silverware on the line, as cordial.

"For me personally, it's a trophy," Maresca said. "When trophies are there in a final you are there to win the game, no friendly game at all. We want to try our best to win the first trophy.

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Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca was non-committal when asked about the future of Rodri and the club's interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez

"Arsenal have shown over the last few years, they have always been there. They're a fantastic team. Well managed, well coached from Mikel, and last year they win the Premier League.

"But we are City, we want to close the gap.

"Pre-season has been good. Now we need to compete, win games, win titles. I want to see high spirit and the right mentality."

When asked if Erling Haaland is fit to feature, Maresca added: "He is ok. He had a small thing behind the heel. But he's ok. Everyone is fit, but we know some of them have just arrived [after their summer break] two days ago."

Arteta: Maresca is as good as Pep - my players are hungry

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the transfer window still offers an opportunity to evolve and does not rule out players joining or leaving the club

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arteta revealed Maresca is "just as good" as his predecessor Guardiola - while also agreeing the Community Shield is a valid trophy - that can set the marker for the season ahead.

"The best version of Arsenal has to be on Sunday. That's the intention," said Arteta. "The best performance, the best way to start the season by lifting the first trophy. That's the way we've prepared the season."

Asked about facing City without Guardiola, Arteta replied: "Now it's Enzo - who is as good as [Guardiola], because I know him well. He will provide something different to the club."

Arteta confirmed that bar the injured Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, Arsenal have a clean bill of health - which includes Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi who are yet to play in pre-season yet.

"It's a trophy, one that we can have because we earned last year it from winning the Premier League," added Arteta. "You can tell how hungry the players are, which is a good sign.

"I love the way the players have come back, most of them earlier as expected. Really fit, we've done all the testing. They all seem in a great condition.

"The moment they started to look at each other, I said: 'look at the squad that we have and what we're building'. There's a lot of excitement."

Team news: Haaland unlikely, Foden's big chance

Analysis by Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

Man City's final pre-season friendly was played on August 9, a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid, and I expect Sunday's XI to be similar. Assuming Rayan Ait Nouri is in good enough condition, he should start at left-back. And with all the speculation around Tijjani Reijnders, it is unlikely he plays on Sunday - or ever again for City.

Maresca's central-midfield options are therefore Nico Gonzalez or Rico Lewis. England duo Nico O'Reilly and Elliot Anderson are the obvious contenders to take up that position when the Premier League kickstarts but neither have had a pre-season because of the World Cup.

Omar Marmoush scored twice, both assisted by Antoine Semenyo, in that Atletico win and is likely to play through the middle as Haaland eases back into action. Phil Foden's comeback trail will also begin after a summer absent of international obligations. He has got a chance to make the No 10 shirt his.

Team news: Bruno to start but Rice, Saka on bench?

Analysis by Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:

Arteta confirmed Rice, Saka and Zubimendi are available to play - but during the pre-season friendlies, the vast majority of Arsenal players were given 30 minutes in their first outings.

It would be wise to predict that the trio are set to start on the bench, but play the final half an hour.

That means a midfield spot for Bruno Guimaraes - who made his debut against Como - is likely in Cardiff. A first real chance to see the Brazilian in the climate Arsenal brought him in for. It could also mean Myles Lewis-Skelly starts despite all the speculation about his future, with Arteta not confirming the teenager is set to stay this summer.

Another summer signing in Christos Tzolis is expected to get a run-out on the left wing - a first real microscope test for him as well - while Max Dowman's full pre-season means he could start over Noni Madueke.

Arteta has a left-back dilemma in who to pick out of Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie - the more-defensive latter may get the nod - while a more energised Martin Odegaard has a chance to lay down a marker after a stop-start campaign last term.