Arsenal head to Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Sunday to face Manchester City in the Community Shield, a rare departure from Wembley for the traditional curtain-raiser. It marks the first competitive test of the new season, with Arteta having already spoken this week about his own future and given fitness updates on Rice, Saka, Saliba and Timber ahead of the fixture.
Beyond the build-up, the Guardian's club-by-club season preview strikes a notably upbeat tone, noting Arsenal go into the campaign having "finally got the title monkey off our back" and with much of the rest of the division in flux. The piece frames Arteta's task as sustaining last season's intensity to mount a credible defence of the title, echoing the wider consensus already reported this week that Arsenal enter the new season as favourites.
With the transfer window still open, further squad business is expected to rumble on in the background before Sunday's match, though nothing concrete emerged in today's coverage beyond the Cardiff staging and the season preview.
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