Manchester City will be without Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus when they face Arsenal in the 2026 FA Community Shield. The Brazilian duo's absence from the squad suggests that they may be on the verge of transfer exits. Both players have been linked with interest from other clubs, with Martinelli reportedly attracting attention from Turkish clubs and Jesus being monitored by Serie A teams, including Napoli.
What happened?
The Community Shield match, scheduled for August 16 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, will be the first competitive fixture for Manchester City under new manager Enzo Maresca. The match will kick off at 3pm BST.
Why it matters for Manchester City
The absence of Martinelli and Jesus from the squad has sparked rumors of potential transfer exits. The duo's omission from the squad suggests that they may be on the verge of leaving the club. This could be a significant blow to Manchester City's attacking lineup, especially with the team struggling to find consistency in their performances.
What comes next?
Manchester City will need to find a way to replace the duo's attacking prowess. The team's predicted lineup for the Community Shield match suggests that Kai Havertz will lead the line as the primary forward option. Christos Tzolis is in contention to start on the left wing, where Martinelli would typically operate.
Squad decisions, not injury absences
Martinelli and Jesus haven't been ruled out due to knocks. They've been excluded from the squad, joining fringe players Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira on the outside looking in. For Martinelli, the omission arrives amid reported interest from Turkish clubs. Jesus, meanwhile, has attracted attention from Serie A, with Napoli among the clubs reportedly monitoring his situation.
A Community Shield with unusual stakes
Martinelli made 89 Premier League appearances over his Arsenal career. Jesus arrived from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 as a marquee signing. Both players have been instrumental in Arsenal's ambitions for major honors, with Jesus bringing experience from his tenure at City and Martinelli contributing pace as a left-sided attacker since joining from São Paulo in 2019.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 2nd in Premier League, 78 pts, 23W-9D-6L from 38 games, recent form LDWWD. Goals this season: 77 scored, 35 conceded (+42 goal difference). Title race: 7 points behind leaders Arsenal. Last result: Manchester City 1-2 Aston Villa (2026-05-24). Recent form (last 5): 1W-2D-2L (LLDDW, most recent first); lost the last 2.
