Mikel Arteta can now do something that has never been done in Community Shield history

Pre-season is finally over, and Arsenal now have a Community Shield clash coming up against Manchester City.

The Gunners have won the trophy 17 times in their history, more than any other club apart from Manchester United.

Arsenal have won each of their last five Community Shield games as well, the most recent of which came in 2023 against Sunday’s opponents, Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta will want to add another trophy to his name this weekend, and he could make history along the way.

Mikel Arteta could break a Community Shield record if he starts Max Dowman or Marli Salmon

Arsenal have always been a club that gives opportunities to young players.

The record for the youngest player to make an appearance in the Premier League belongs to Ethan Nwaneri, who was given his chance by Arteta when he was just 15 years old.

Arsenal have since had a few more talented youngsters get first-team minutes, and a couple of those players could make history in the Community Shield against Manchester City.

The youngest player to ever start a game in the competition was Cesc Fabregas, when Arsene Wenger gave him the nod in midfield back in 2004. He was just 17 at the time.

Arteta loves breaking records, and he could easily do that on Sunday.

Both Max Dowman and Marli Salmon are just 16 years of age, and they were both fantastic in the pre-season games.

If either player gets the nod in Cardiff on Sunday, they will become the youngest player in Community Shield history to start a game.

Dowman is about four months younger than Salmon, so he will hold the outright record if he is named in the starting lineup.

Max Dowman and Marli Salmon should both start for Arsenal vs Manchester City

Throwing two 16-year-olds into a game where a trophy is on the line sounds crazy, but both Dowman and Salmon deserve the opportunity.

The attacker impressed in every game during pre-season, and with Bukayo Saka still unavailable and Noni Madueke disappointing against Como, the 16-year-old should be the favourite to start.

As for Salmon, every Arsenal fan will agree that he was the club’s best defender during pre-season despite being so young.

The academy star was outstanding on both sides of central defence, and with William Saliba out injured, we think he should start again.

It remains to be seen what Arteta will do, but we are convinced at least one of them will start against City on Sunday.