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Anderson joined City from Nottingham Forest in a £116m deal in July, having enjoyed two superb campaigns at the City Ground after leaving Newcastle United.  

Last season, even as Forest battled against relegation and ultimately finished 16th, Anderson had the most touches, won possession the most times, won the most duels and drew the most fouls of any player in the Premier League.

He then played a key role in England's run to the bronze medal at the World Cup, leading everyone else in Thomas Tuchel's squad for duels won, tackles, tackles won, interceptions and possession regains. 

Anderson has now returned to pre-season training with Enzo Maresca's City squad, and his first appearance in Sky Blue could come at the Principality Stadium in the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season.

He believes Sunday's game represents an opportunity for City to lay down an early marker against the team that beat them to the Premier League title in 2025-2026.

"A chance to win a trophy in your first week is quite good, so hopefully I can get minutes there and show what I can do," Anderson said.

"It's really important. I think every game is important, all the pre-season games have been important, so that's all we'll try and do – win that game.

"It'll be a difficult game. Obviously, they're the champions from last season, so it'll be tough, but every game is going to be tough this season. 

"We'll just play in our style and try and win the game."

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta won both of his Community Shield matches as a player, in 2014 and 2015, and he has also won both so far as a manager in 2020 and 2023, with both managerial victories coming via penalty shoot-outs.

City won on its last appearance in the Community Shield, beating Manchester United on penalties in 2024. 

However, it has been runner-up in the match nine times.

The Red Devils were linked with Anderson's signature before City made its move, but when asked if he was ever close to moving to the other side of Manchester, Anderson simply replied: "No."

This will be City's first season under a manager other than Pep Guardiola for a decade, but in Maresca – who previously had two spells as part of the backroom staff at the Etihad Stadium. 

"I had a bit of work with him today and you can see the detail he goes into; I'm looking really forward to that," Anderson said.

On the last 10 occasions where the Community Shield has been between the league champion and the FA Cup winner, the FA Cup holder has won eight times. City – the FA Cup holder this year – was the only side to win the match as league champion during that time.