PREVIEW: FA COMMUNITY SHIELD

Arsenal and Manchester City have both stressed the importance of getting their campaign off to a winning start in Sunday's Community Shield.

The season's traditional curtain-raiser at Wembley represents a chance for clubs to clinch some silverware, while fans are afforded the opportunity to see new signings in competitive action for the first time.

Manchester City, victors over Chelsea two years ago at Villa Park, have recent experience of the occasion but Arsenal's last outing came back in 2005, on the back of their FA Cup triumph earlier that year. That proved to be the London club's last piece of silverware for nine years, before that barren run ended in May with a 3-2 extra-time triumph over Hull City.

City, though, are riding the crest of an even bigger wave after regaining the Premier League title that they had lost to bitter rivals Manchester United the season before. It provided a glorious climax to Manuel Pellegrini's first season in charge and the Chilean has underlined how seriously he and his squad are taking Sunday's clash.

"It is not a friendly match," he told the press. "It is an important game against an important team in Arsenal.

"Maybe both teams, Arsenal and our team, do not arrive in our best moment because both have a lot of players who have just arrived from the World Cup but I think it will be a very good game and important for both teams to win it."

Pellegrini revealed that new loan signing Frank Lampard would not play any part in the match following his arrival from New York City, while a host of players - including former Arsenal man Bacary Sagna - only joined up with the squad on Monday.

"Frank Lampard is not ready to play," he explained. "All the [other] players who arrived on Monday - [Martin] Demichelis, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Sagna, Fernandinho and [Sergio] Aguero - they have a special pre-season this week and next week."

Wenger bolstered his ranks with the high-profile addition of Alexis Sanchez during the transfer window and the Frenchman is likely to put out a similar side to that which lost 1-0 to Monaco in the Emirates Cup.

"[The squad will be] completely similar [to Monaco] unless we buy someone before Sunday," the Gunners bosss confirmed. "It's exciting for us to go back to Wembley. Ideally you want to start strong.

"We are not maybe ready physically but we should be better on Sunday. It's a good test, good to play Manchester City because they are an interesting opponent."

EPL Football Transfer News & Rumors Analysis: Which Teams Are Top Title Contenders?

Chelsea and Arsenal made a lot of transfers this summer and rumor has it that more could be on the way. But are these teams top contenders to win the EPL in 2014-15? (Photo : Getty Images )

During the 2013-14 season, the battle for the Premier League title proved suspenseful as four teams competed for the top honor. 

Arsenal held the position for most of the season, but a dip in form in the second half doomed the Gunners. Meanwhile, Chelsea seemed to have the title locked up, but imploded as the season drew to its end. Liverpool was also in prime position to win it all, but the team blew a 3-0 lead in less than 15 minutes and wound up losing its title hopes. Eventually, Manchester City emerged from the pack and took home its second title in three years.

The 2014-15 promises to be just as riveting. But which side will emerge victorious? Here are the top contenders to win the Premier League during the 2014-15 season:

Manchester City

Notable Additions: The defending champs enter this season looking more or less the same. The team has not had any high profile additions outside of Willy Caballero, Fernando and Bacary Sagna. Caballero is the big name here, as he gives starting goalkeeper Joe Hart some competition and gives manager Manuel Pellegrini some confidence in his goaltending should Hart implode once more this season.

Notable Additions: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has made a huge splash this summer after falling just four points short of winning the title. The team was in desperate need of a reliable forward and went out and got Diego Costa. Didier Drogba was also brought back to add support and leadership for the side up top. Chelsea was also in dire need of a creative player and brought in Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona. David Luiz was let go, but Filipe Luis was brought in instead.Chelsea

How can they win it? Mourinho is well-known for parking the bus and playing on the counter. That is unlikely to change all that much, but having players like Cesc Fabregas should allow him a bit more versatility in attack. If Chelsea can play with more dimension, then it should have no problem adapting to differing game situations.

Goal scoring was a problem last season, so Costa will be relied on heavily to succeed where Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba failed last season. Considering Costa's performance last season, this should not be a hard task to fulfill.

Manchester United

Notable Additions: New coach Louis van Gaal did not make any radical changes to the Manchester United squad that faltered so poorly under David Moyes. It is clear that he feels the problem was not with the players and only added Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera.

How can they win it?  The team has the quality and talent to win the title, as it did during the 2012-13 season. It really comes down Van Gaal instilling the side with the confidence and structure it lacked under Moyes. Based on pre-season form, it seems that the side is headed in the right direction.

Arsenal

Notable Additions: The Gunners sputtered at the end of last season as a result of injuries and players imploding down the stretch. So Arsene Wenger, who is known for being conservative, has brought in solid depth. He added versatile forward Alexis Sanchez who will give the team speed on the wings and up front. He brought in goalie David Ospina to compete for the top spot in net. And he also added Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers to strengthen the team at the back.

How can they win it? It comes down to balance with this squad. Arsenal still lacks a poised central defending midfielder and will need its attacking flair to seize the day. The Gunners only scored 68 goals in 2013-14. Title winners Manchester City scored 102 while second place Liverpool managed 101 tallies.

Liverpool might seem like a notable absence from this list, but the team will surely suffer Luis Suarez's absence.

The Dutchman guided his side to victory in the International Champions Cup after they beat Premier League rivals Liverpool in Miami to win the pre-season tournament

Louis van Gaal has won his first trophy as Manchester United boss since taking up his new role at the club in July. 

United won the International Champions Cup courtesy of a 3-1 win over Premier League rivals Liverpool, putting in an impressive second half display following an unconvincing performance before the break. 

Wayne Rooney - who was awarded Player of the tournament - was handed the armband by the Dutchman for the final in Miami and the England striker led by example, grabbing his side's equaliser before Juan Mata scored what proved to be the winning goal moments later - with Jesse Lingard sealing the victory.

Van Gaal has made a big impression since taking over the reins at Old Trafford, with a number of first team stars coming out to praise the 62-year-old's methods, and the team has already shown significant signs of improvement from last term on their pre-season tour in the US.

LA Galaxy were blown away in Van Gaal's first game in charge, with the MLS outfit thumped 7-0 in a match before the tournament got underway, and United have remained unbeaten under their new boss.

Having beaten Roma 3-2 and seen off fellow Serie A side Inter on penalties following a 0-0 draw, United then beat Real Madrid in front of a record crowd to secure their place in the final against Liverpool. 

Van Gaal has stated he wants to win a major trophy in his first season at Manchester United, and has laid down a marker with their pre-season success.