Big guns ready to slug it out for Community Shield trophy

Gabriel Jesus has won trophies with both teams in the FA Community Shield 2026 but he’s hoping Arsenal’s League title win is a springboard to more success.

He looks ahead to Sunday's game against Manchester City at the Principality Stadium.

So, thinking back to last season and the day Manchester City drew with Bournemouth to enable Arsenal to lift the title. What do you remember of that day?

It was a nice day, one of the nicest I’ve had in my time at Arsenal. Watching that game together at the Arsenal training ground, everyone hoping that Bournemouth could draw or win and then seeing everyone believing it could happen, everyone so happy … finding out we were champions of England. Obviously that’s when the celebrations started, everyone singing. Everyone enjoyed the moment and we had worked so hard for that.

Seeing the celebrations in north London, what did it mean to the players to see the supporters celebrating like that?

It was amazing. The fans went with us to every game last season and they sang and really pushed the team. It has been a while since they have been able to celebrate winning the league, so to see them able to do that, and seeing people smiling and so happy, was unbelievable. Unforgettable moments. Seeing people singing and celebrating like crazy is a memory I’ll remember forever.

It was a first league title for Mikel Arteta as Arsenal coach, what do you think it meant to him?

I think it was great for him, for all the effort he has put in and all the changes he has made to the team, to the club, to the mentality. You could see from the beginning that he was changing the mentality and chemistry of the players, the team and the staff. He has demanded this of all of us. And now, on the first day of pre-season, he is demanding those same standards again, talking about football, tactics. You can see why he is elite and why he’ll win more.

As a team, how do you build on the success of last season?

The fact that we have won the league will help a lot. This group of players and the type of people we are, we all want to go and win again and again and having that experience behind us now will help us. The feeling of winning is good, and something we all want to experience many times. We also have new players joining us who want to experience that winning feeling, so together that will push us on.

Looking ahead to the FA Community Shield, what would it mean getting your name on that first piece of silverware this season?

They are a very difficult team to play. I know them very well obviously after having been there for a few years. With a change of manager they’ll be a different team. They still have a lot of the same players but I think the way they’ll play will be slightly different. They are a team that has won so much in the past but we want to start the season well by winning more trophies.

This match is being played in Cardiff this year, do you think that will make it a slightly different occasion?

I think so. All the time I have been here this game has been played at Wembley, so to play in another stadium in another city will be strange. For us, though, it doesn’t matter, the goal is the same and we’ll go there and try and win it.

Meanwhile, Antoine Semenyo is looking ahead to his first full season with Manchester City and the task is clear ... to compete for every trophy, starting with the FA Community Shield.

The Manchester City star previews Sunday's game against Arsenal in Cardiff.

How would you sum up pre-season so far?

Really positive. The intensity has been high from day one and everyone has come back determined to improve. The sessions have been demanding but that's exactly what you want because it prepares you properly for the season.

What was your favourite moment from the World Cup?

The win against Panama in the final minutes was special. Of course, ourselves as a team and our Ghanaian fans would have liked to have gone further than we did but it was an amazing occasion to be a part of. The World Cup always brings people together and it was special to see our fans bring so much energy, love and atmosphere.

What are you most excited about heading into the new campaign?

Competing for trophies. This club thrives for success and as players, that's what motivates you. There's a lot of quality in this squad and I'm excited to see what we can achieve together.

Are you happy with your record since joining the club?

I'm happy with how it’s gone so far but I want to keep going. You always feel there's more to come. I want to keep improving and helping the team win as many games as possible.

What would make this season a successful one for you and the team?

Winning trophies and being competitive in every competition we enter. I want to contribute as much as possible but football is about collective success and that's the biggest objective.

Thinking back to the reason City are here for the FA Community Shield and your moment of magic in the Emirates FA Cup final ... what are your memories of that winner?

It's a moment I'll never forget. Everything happened so quickly but when the ball hit the net, it was pure emotion. To score in a final and help the club lift a major trophy is something every player dreams about. It's right up there (as one of my favourite moments), for sure. When you score important goals in big games, they mean a little bit more. Because of the occasion and what it meant for the club, it's definitely one of the highlights of my career so far.

The FA Community Shield is a great way to kick off the season. Does it feel different to a normal pre-season fixture?

Definitely. There's a different edge to it because it's a competitive match with a trophy at stake. It feels much closer to a proper season game than a typical pre-season fixture.

Is there an extra buzz around the dressing room knowing there's a trophy on the line?

Of course. As footballers, you want to compete for honours. Whenever there's silverware available, motivation isn't difficult to find. Winning would be a great way to begin the season. It gives everyone confidence and momentum.

Games against Arsenal are always close. What do you expect from them as reigning league champions?

A very tough test. We know what they’re about and these are the games you look forward to playing in. Hopefully we can start the season on a winning note.