The Community Shield: England's unofficial soccer season kickoff
The 2023-24 Premier League season doesn't start until Aug. 11, but eagle-eyed fans may see a strange, one-off game on the English soccer calendar Sunday.
It's the Community Shield, an annual match between winners of the last Premier League and last FA Cup. It has served as the unofficial kickoff of England's soccer season since 1930.
Many fans erroneously believe the Community Shield is a friendly, a pointless pre-season game played for nothing but pride. While it doesn't carry the same cachet as the Premier League or FA Cup, winning the Community Shield does count as a trophy, and it's a great way for a team to start its season.
All proceeds from the Community Shield game are redirected to charities across England. Money from ticket sales is distributed to all clubs within the English soccer pyramid. This is the best of both worlds: value for teams and fans.
Regular English soccer viewers may remember that Pep Guardiola's Manchester City won both titles in the 2022-23 season. Since City can't play themselves, its Community Shield opponent will be Arsenal, which finished last season as the Premier League's runner-up.
How are these teams looking after the long summer break?
Man City. Things are looking...interesting for City after their historic "treble" in 2023. While the team is undeniably still strong, losing attacking midfielders İlkay Gündoğan and Riyad Mahrez has weakened its forward line. City have brought in a midfielder to replace them, but it's Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic. He is a stellar central midfielder and traditional No. 6 but is no match for Gundogan's or Mahrez's offensive firepower.
The goals must come from Erling Haaland, then, at least in the first few weeks of the season while the transfer window remains open. City fans shouldn't be too worried about that; the Norwegian striker scored 53 in 52 games last season.
Arsenal. While City have been relatively conservative in the transfer window, Arsenal have been the complete opposite. The London club dropped over $100 million on West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, enough for a British transfer record, and also snapped up Chelsea's Kai Havertz and Ajax's Jurrien Timber.
Rice's performance is likely to be scrutinized. At his price, he must be astonishing. While Rice is capable of greatness in his defensive midfield position, he's inclined to drift forward and morph himself into an English Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal doesn't need the British Martin Odegaard; it already has the real deal. It needs Rice to stay put at the base of the midfield diamond and fill the spot that Granit Xhaka left when he moved to Bayer Leverkusen. Can Rice do what is asked of him and deliver on his promise?
The Community Shield match is Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.
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