Photo: Katie Chan / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his squad is eager to claim the Community Shield against Manchester City at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, the first trophy of the new season.
"We are really excited to start the season," Arteta said at his pre-match press conference. "To start with the first trophy as well, I sense a really good energy around the place. All the internationals are back, and we can't wait to start competing."
Arteta highlighted the mood among returning players as a positive indicator ahead of the campaign. "I love the way the players have come back, most of them earlier than expected, really fit with all the testing and they all seem in great condition," he said.
"The moment they start to look at each other and look at the squad that we have and what we are building, there is a lot of excitement around it."
It is the first time Arsenal face Manchester City without Pep Guardiola in the opposing dugout since 2016. Enzo Maresca will take charge of his first competitive match as City manager in Cardiff.
Arteta was measured but complimentary about his counterpart. "I know Enzo has the character and especially the knowledge to do an unbelievable job there," he said. "He has demonstrated at every level, when he's gone to the Champions League, what he's done at Chelsea and now at City. I'm sure he'll do a great job."