Arsenal may have just hinted which goalkeeper will start vs Man City - David Raya, Kepa or Illan Meslier
Mikel Arteta has a decision to make in goal when Arsenal take on Manchester City in the Community Shield.
David Raya is the club’s number one goalkeeper, but he was away at the World Cup and returned late for pre-season.
Kepa Arrizabalaga played the most minutes in goal in the five friendlies, while Illan Meslier impressed every time he got on the pitch.
But which of the three will start in goal in Cardiff? Arsenal may have let the cat out of the bag.
Arsenal may have hinted that David Raya will start in the Community Shield vs Manchester City
Raya was almost ever-present in the Premier League and Champions League last season, and he was the best goalkeeper in both competitions.
However, in the two domestic cups, Mikel Arteta chose to deploy Kepa between the sticks.
That worked fine in the earlier rounds, but when Arsenal faced Manchester City in the final of the Carabao Cup, that decision proved to be a disaster.
Kepa made a shocking mistake, and that handed City the cup. Then, just a few days later, the Spaniard was at fault in the FA Cup quarter-final as well.
That is why there is a dilemma now over who will start in goal in Cardiff, especially with the arrival of Meslier and his impressive start in Arsenal’s colours.
However, one of the Gunners’ latest social media posts may have given it away.
Arsenal released a poster for the Community Shield clash in the Millennium Stadium, and the face of that poster is none other than Raya.
That could mean the former Brentford man will start against City fresh off his penalty shootout heroics against Como in the final pre-season game.
Competing for the Community Shield ✊ pic.twitter.com/drYxPm4lBs
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 15, 2026
Arsenal fans are desperate for David Raya to start vs Manchester City
Arsenal supporters watched what happened with Kepa in the cups last term and also the mistakes he made during this summer’s pre-season.
Seeing that, Gooners are desperate for Raya to get the nod, and many think Arsenal’s poster is a big hint too ahead of the game on Sunday.
One tweeted: “I hope Raya as a poster boy means only one thing.”
Another wrote: “Raya as the poster boy?? That must mean he’s starting!”
“David Raya’s image reassures me. God willing, he’ll play against City. I don’t want to see Kepa as a starter and the Carabao Cup final scenario repeat itself,” wrote another.