First published on Ace Magazine Online. August 2014.

It seems strange to think that only once before have Arsenal and Manchester City have met in the Charity/Community Shield. That game also ended up with the men from Manchester being taught a lesson in humility. Whilst this defeat won’t hurt many of the fans that travelled all the way down the M6 as much as it did in the utter ignominy that faced them in the workplace after their team lost to Wigan Athletic in the 2013 F.A. Cup Final, it will still send a few nervous nights to those who go to Eastlands this season that those charged with carrying on the success if the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Sergio Aguero and Joey Hart should face lengthy lay-offs, are not exactly the thrilling machine that has carried Manchester City to so much success in the last four years.