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The start of the Premier League season is on the horizon and fans who cannot wait for hostilities to recommence will look forward to Sunday’s Community Shield clash at Wembley.

Treble winners Manchester City will be seeking to add another trophy to their collection and are favourites to beat Arsenal, who led the top flight for much of last season having improved immensely under former City assistant manager Mikel Arteta.

Both he and his opposite number Pep Guardiola could shuffle the pack before the league action gets under way next weekend, but the traditional curtain-raiser to the Premier League season tends to be a bit more than just another pre-season friendly and it would not be a surprise if no quarter was given.

We have three bets that could reward punters with the start of top-flight season just around the corner.

TO WIN COMMUNITY SHIELD IN 90 MINUTES

Manchester City carried all before them last season as they won their fifth Premier League in six seasons, the FA Cup with a final victory over arch rivals Manchester United and then the Champions League for the first time by beating Inter Milan in Istanbul.

It was a wonderful campaign for the Citizens, who became only the second English team to win the treble, but the Community Shield is one trophy that they have not monopolised during Guardiola’s reign at the Etihad Stadium.

The Citizens have lost the traditional curtain-raiser in each of the last two seasons, losing to Leicester and Liverpool, and they may be vulnerable against the Gunners on Sunday.

The north London club have recruited wisely this summer and the additions of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham and Kai Havertz from Chelsea mean they should be stronger than they were last season.

And it has been their attitude in pre-season that has particularly impressed. Barcelona boss Xavi said Arsenal had approached their recent friendly in California as if it was a Champions League final and a similar mindset could prove problematic for City.

City are an extremely tough side to beat but the Gunners look good value to win this game inside 90 minutes.

Tip: Arsenal

TO SCORE OVER 1.5 GOALS

The Gunners were rocked this week by the news that striker Gabriel Jesus will miss the start of the campaign with a knee injury.

The Brazilian missed much of the second half of last season after limping out of the World Cup, but we can expect Arsenal to still be positive at Wembley, just as they were in most of their games last season.

Arteta’s side eventually ran out of steam, but they were strong in the final third, scoring at least two goals in 12 of their final 16 matches.

Admittedly, two of the games in which they failed to do that were against City - but the champions were really on the ball at that point as they chased down the Londoners for the title.

They may not be as switched on this time and, in a game that promises goals, it is worth chancing that Arsenal can score at least twice at 2/1.

Tip: Arsenal 

TO MAKE AN ASSIST

Signing Havertz, who scored the winning goal for Chelsea against Manchester City in the Champions League final in 2021, has given Arteta an extra forward resource, but one player to keep an eye on could be Leandro Trossard.

The Belgian arrived at the Emirates from Brighton in January and played his part in helping the Gunners cement their place as runners-up to City.

He featured in 20 matches and while he started just ten, it is notable that he contributed with ten assists following his move to the capital.

Trossard gave Arteta a reminder of his value to the team as he chipped in with two goals in the 5-3 friendly win over Barcelona, but he is more noted for his ability to provide opportunities rather than finishing them, so we can expect him to play a prominent role for the Gunners in the final third.

He is 5/2 to make an assist in Sunday’s clash and that looks a decent price.

Tip: Leandro Trossard