Man City have raised their own expectations as their rivals circle

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Here we go again. Fifty-seven days since City were finally crowned champions of Europe for the first time on that balmy Istanbul night, Pep Guardiola and his band of conquerors will head into battle again with the Community Shield at Wembley against Arsenal.

And if last season seemed difficult, this one looks even tougher. It is always harder when you win things. Everyone expects more of you, and everyone is more determined to beat you; the scalp of the best team in the country and the continent is always the most satisfying.

The league has arguably never been tougher either. Arsenal have backed Mikel Arteta in the transfer market to the tune of around £200m and counting, allowing him to make key upgrades that they hope will mean last year's Premier League bridesmaids will be blushing come next May. Also read: Pep Guardiola sends Man City transfer message over two players Declan Rice is a player that Guardiola really liked, and whatever the truth of the transfer tussle between the clubs nobody would deny that he looks an excellent addition to a Gunners squad already stacked with talent.

As the manager indicated on Friday, their signings are not just to improve the squad but the starting XI. Liverpool have made two midfield signings in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai that look the sort of deals that parachuted them to the top of English football as they plot their return, while there is fresh hope in West and North London with new managers after the carnage that engulfed their seasons.