Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi did not play a minute of football for Arsenal this preseason, so they almost certainly not be starting in the FA Community Shield on Sunday. They have resumed training, however, this past week and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that they will be in the squad for the FA Community Shield this weekend.
Coming off an extended break, following their deep runs with their national teams at the World Cup, they have been training normally, with the rest of the group, in recent days.
FA Community Shield 2026
Sun. August 16, 3pm UK, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes Streaming: ESPN+
Man City Preview Material: Predicted XI Team News
Arsenal Preview Material: Predicted XI Team News
Arsenal Team News
“They will be available,” Arteta said at his news conference earlier today. “They trained with us today, they will train tomorrow. If they are in the condition we expect them to be, they will be involved.”
Sounds like they will be involved, but only in a minor role, off the bench. They have to be ready for the season opener, which is only one week away, as of today. The Gunners will open at home against newly promoted Coventry City.
William Saliba and Jurrien Timber remain out as longer-term injury absentees.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.