"Of course it is not a friendly," Manuel Pellegrini said on Friday, shortly after he had confirmed that eight of his premier players will not feature in the Community Shield.
It rather raised the question of what the match is: a clash of the heavyweights, the first real indicator of what will happen this season, or an exhibition match with no real relevance?
The fixture’s declining status, veering nearer pre-season warm-up than competitive game, was summed up when Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, sent off against City in 2012, was not suspended.
City won that Community Shield. Roberto Mancini classed it as a trophy for his collection; unfortunately for the Italian, few others did.
If their task for Sunday is to emulate Mancini’s men, the job for the season is to avoid making the same mistakes. Superficially, there are similarities in their summer business.
In 2012, they signed a backup goalkeeper, Richard Wright. Now Willy Caballero has arrived to start the season as Joe Hart’s deputy. Two years ago, Maicon was the right-back recruited. Now Bacary Sagna is. Mancini ended up bringing in one English midfielder, Jack Rodwell, and one from a Portuguese club, Javi Garcia.
Pellegrini has loaned Frank Lampard and purchased Fernando. Two years ago, a young central defender, Matija Nastasic, joined. Now Eliaquim Mangala should.
The difference is that Mancini spent the season lamenting the ones that got away, forever complaining that his major targets such as Robin van Persie, Daniele de Rossi and Eden Hazard all eluded City.
Pellegrini is securing players City have wanted for months, in Mangala and Fernando, and whereas their August spending in 2012 consisted of a late dash for players who were not their first choices, the current spending has been planned with greater care. These are the men they wanted.
Yet, no matter how carefully laid plans are, this is scarcely the time to assess them.
The proximity of the World Cup means neither side will be at full strength. Arsenal’s three winners – Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski – have not even returned to training yet.
City’s three runners-up – Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta – have, but only began their preparations on Monday.
None will feature. Neither will Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, Sagna, Lampard and the injured Alvaro Negredo.
At least that should save Arsenal a sight of a former favourite. Sagna, who was part of the France squad, won a trophy in his last game as a Gunner, which was the FA Cup final against Hull City in May.
He could secure silverware again in his first as a City player. Indeed, the shift in the balance of power between these clubs has been accompanied by the traffic of players north. Sagna is the fifth to swap the Emirates Stadium for the Etihad in as many years.
Go back a decade and Arsenal were in the middle of a golden run against City when they won 10 of their 11 meetings, often emphatically. Now they have only won one of the past 11.
The role reversal was illustrated when they ventured to Manchester in December to face fourth-placed City. They ended the season having exchanged positions.
They left defeated 6-3, the first of three humiliating away losses at the top three when they conceded 17 goals.
A first meeting with title rivals may be an early chance to examine if Arsenal have acquired the required steel to sustain a challenge.
Over 35 games, theirs was virtually the form of champions. In the other three, it was abject.
An Arsenal win might indicate that they have acquired extra mettle just as, after the seasons of sales, they are now spenders. Alexis Sanchez is this summer’s marquee buy.
“In the last two years, we bought Ozil and Sanchez,” Wenger said on Thursday. “Five years ago, we would have lost Ozil and Sanchez.”
So there have been statements of intent in the transfer market. Those on the pitch, however, may have to wait until the serious stuff starts.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE