Community Shield: Who is ready, Arsenal or Manchester City?

The FA Community Shield takes place on Sunday at Cardiff City Stadium. Who is better equipped ahead of the game, Manchester City or Arsenal?...

The FA Community Shield takes place on Sunday at Cardiff City Stadium. Who is better equipped ahead of the game, Manchester City or Arsenal? (Photo credit: BBC)

The Premier League resumes next week, with the traditional curtain-raiser, the FA Community Shield, taking place this weekend in Cardiff, Wales.

What does that mean? It signifies that teams are diligently preparing, acquiring new players, and acclimating themselves in anticipation of a potentially remarkable season. Today, we focus on some exciting transfers that could define how some teams set up for the new season.

We can't help but start with Manchester City. A new manager and potentially a new-look team following the exits of John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Nathan Aké, Manuel Akanji, and potentially Rodri, who is being aggressively courted by Barcelona.

Elliot Anderson came in for a record fee, but the Cityzens need more hands, especially with the imminent departure of Rodri. Ayyoub Bouaddi is the man expected to come into the midfield, and we can confirm that Manchester City has already agreed on terms with the player.

Even at that, Manchester City still need bodies. The defense needs help. An injury to a couple of key defenders could leave Enzo Maresca's side helpless again, and they do need to go sign a proper right-back, with Matheus Nunes deputizing in that role over the last two seasons.

Up next, we discuss the team the Cityzens will face in the Community Shield on Sunday. Arsenal lost their last two pre-season games, conceding three goals in each. You can say it's just pre-season and not many would expect perfection, but conceding three goals in back-to-back games?

Players like Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber haven't been fully integrated. The former played the first half of the Sunday game against Borussia Dortmund, while Mikel Arteta confirmed that Timber will miss the opening game of the season as he's still weeks away.

Rumors are making the rounds that Arsenal could be interested in Tottenham defender Christian Romero. It's not the first time such a thing would happen, with Sol Campbell coming to mind. Does Arteta want a player of Romero's temperament?

Elsewhere on the pitch, Arsenal may have floated the best midfield in the Premier League with the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, but the left side of their attack still needs help. Christos Tzolis has been impressive in pre-season, but is he enough for the season?

With Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli last season, Arsenal needed more. Now, without the Belgian and with the introduction of the Greek winger, only last season's situation was restored. Where does Arsenal turn to for a left-sided winger?

Who wins the Community Shield? Manchester City has the advantage with all their players in camp already, except the want-away Rodri. Arteta did confirm that his Spanish and English World Cup stars will return to training on Monday, but would they get enough fitness ahead of the weekend?