Arsenal vs Manchester City: With Arsene Wenger missing a number of key players, who could start the Community Shield clash?

The Gunners will be without Mesut Özil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski as well as injured winger Theo Walcott

New signing Alexis Sanchez poses in the kit (GETTY IMAGES)

With Arsenal beginning the season without their World Cup winners Mesut Özil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski, Arsene Wenger faces a potentially tricky decision over who to start the season with.

The additions of Mathieu Debuchy and star-signing Alexis Sanchez have been somewhat offset by the absence of the three Germany players, who aren’t due to return from a four-week post-World Cup holiday until 11 August.

That means they will miss the Community Shield at Wembley against the Premier League champions Manchester City, and Wenger admitted that they will also be doubtful to face Crystal Palace on 16 August in their opening league match of the season at the Emirates.

With the club looking to build on their FA Cup success this season with a tilt at the Premier League as well as the defence of their crown, Wenger will be determined to get off to a good start. Last season saw the Gunners slip to a shock 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa before embarking on an impressive run that helped them rise to the top of the table.

So who will Wenger look to in order to fill the 11 starting berths for the curtain-raiser at Wembley in two weeks’ time?

Arsenal face Manchester City on Sunday 10 August in the Community Shield, and you can follow the match live on The Independent.