Arsenal Injury Update: Saka, Rice and Zubimendi Available vs Man City

Arsenal injury update has provided a major boost to Mikel Arteta ahead of the FA Community Shield final against Manchester City on Sunday, August 16. The Gunners manager confirmed that Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi are available for selection after returning to training with the squad.

Arsenal will face Manchester City at the Cardiff Principality Stadium as both sides look to begin the 2026-27 campaign with silverware. The Gunners enter the contest as the defending Premier League champions, while City are the reigning FA Cup holders.

Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi available for Arsenal

Arteta confirmed that Saka, Rice, and Zubimendi have trained with the Arsenal squad and should be involved against Manchester City, provided they maintain their expected fitness levels.

Speaking ahead of the Community Shield, Arteta said:

“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.”

The availability of the trio is particularly significant because none of them featured for Arsenal during the club’s pre-season fixtures after returning from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Saka and Rice helped England finish third at the World Cup, while Zubimendi was part of the Spain side that lifted the trophy. Their return gives Arteta additional quality and experience in both attack and midfield.

Arsenal still without Jurrien Timber and William Saliba

While Arsenal received positive news regarding three important players, Arteta also confirmed that the defensive situation remains less encouraging.

Jurrien Timber and William Saliba are still recovering from their respective injuries and will not be available for Sunday’s Community Shield encounter. Their absence could force Arteta to make adjustments to his defensive setup against a Manchester City side beginning a new era under Enzo Maresca.

The availability of Saka, Rice, and Zubimendi therefore provides some balance to Arsenal’s squad situation, although the manager will still have to carefully manage his defensive options.

Arsenal face Manchester City in 2026 Community Shield

The Community Shield will offer Arsenal and Manchester City an early opportunity to test themselves before the Premier League season gets underway.

Arsenal are the defending Premier League champions, while Manchester City enter the match as FA Cup holders. The fixture is traditionally regarded as the curtain-raiser for the English football season, although it is often treated as a competitive pre-season encounter.

For Arteta, the match will also provide an opportunity to assess several players following the summer break and the 2026 World Cup.

Why is Arsenal vs Manchester City not being played at Wembley?

The 2026 FA Community Shield will take place at Cardiff Principality Stadium instead of the traditional Wembley Stadium.

Wembley was unavailable because the 90,000-capacity venue had already been booked for a concert by Canadian rapper The Weeknd as part of his music tour.

Cardiff’s Principality Stadium has previously hosted the Community Shield. The venue staged the fixture between 2001 and 2006 while Wembley Stadium underwent redevelopment.

The last Community Shield to be played away from Wembley was in 2022, when Liverpool faced Manchester City at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium.

Arsenal vs Manchester City: Key points

• Bukayo Saka is available for Arsenal’s Community Shield clash.
• Declan Rice has returned to training and is expected to be involved.
• Martin Zubimendi is also available after Spain’s World Cup triumph.
• Jurrien Timber and William Saliba remain unavailable due to injuries.
• Arsenal will face Manchester City at Cardiff Principality Stadium on August 16.

What Arteta’s update means for Arsenal

Arteta’s latest fitness update gives Arsenal an important boost ahead of their first competitive-style fixture of the new campaign. Having Saka, Rice, and Zubimendi available gives the manager more options in key areas of the pitch.

However, the absence of Timber and Saliba means Arsenal’s defensive depth will remain an important talking point. With Manchester City also entering a new managerial era under Maresca, the Community Shield could provide an intriguing early indication of how both teams are shaping up for the 2026-27 season.