Arsenal could hardly have asked for a better start to the new season. Mikel Arteta’s side tore Manchester City apart with a 3-0 win in the Community Shield on Sunday, lifting the trophy for the 18th time and sending an early warning to their Premier League rivals.
The Gunners needed just 23 seconds to take the lead, with Riccardo Calafiori finishing off a superb move involving Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Lewis-Skelly allowed the ball to run across his body 25 yards from goal before slipping a superb reverse pass into the path of Calafiori. The Italian left-back made no mistake, running onto the pass before calmly sidefooting beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It was the fastest goal in Community Shield history and set the tone for a one-sided afternoon in Cardiff.
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City did have a chance to respond when Phil Foden found space 25 yards from goal, but David Raya produced an excellent diving save to keep Arsenal ahead.
Arsenal, though, continued to control the game and doubled their advantage in the 28th minute.
Martin Odegaard picked out the far post with a dangerous cross after cutting inside from the right. Christos Tzolis, one of Arsenal’s debutants, made a clever run beyond Abdukodir Khusanov and managed to direct a looping header back across goal.
Kai Havertz was perfectly placed to meet it, heading through Donnarumma and into the net.
It was a deserved reward for an Arsenal side that played with real intensity despite the Community Shield traditionally being viewed as a curtain-raiser rather than a major competitive fixture. The Gunners looked hungry from the opening whistle and gave City very little time to settle.
Tzolis, in particular, made a strong first impression. The summer signing was lively throughout the first half and played a key role in Arsenal’s second goal.
City made a change at the break, bringing on Jack Grealish for Jeremy Doku, while Arsenal introduced Declan Rice for Bruno Guimaraes.
But it made little difference.
ARSENAL PUT THE GAME BEYOND CITY
Arsenal needed only three minutes of the second half to make it 3-0.
Tzolis was involved again, sending a low ball into the area. Odegaard took it beautifully in his stride, darting in front of Josko Gvardiol before sending the City defender the wrong way.
With Donnarumma committed, Odegaard simply passed the ball into the empty net.
It was the kind of goal that summed up Arsenal’s afternoon. Quick movement, confidence and composure left City chasing shadows.
Manchester City tried to change the game with a triple substitution soon after, with Omar Marmoush and Marc Guehi among those introduced. Rico Lewis and Rayan Cherki also came on later, while Arsenal brought on Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie.
None of it changed the picture.
Arsenal were comfortable in possession and, as the minutes ticked away, the City fans had little to cheer about. The Gunners even had time to enjoy long spells of passing, with the supporters responding with a chorus of “ol” as Arteta’s side dictated the tempo.
For City, it was a difficult start under new manager Enzo Maresca, who was taking charge of the club in a competitive fixture for the first time following Pep Guardiola’s departure.
For Arteta, however, it was another statement from a side that finally ended its long wait for the Premier League title last season.
The Community Shield is not a trophy that should be used to predict an entire campaign, and Arsenal know that better than most. The last seven winners have failed to win the Premier League in the same season.
But after a performance of this quality against Manchester City, it is difficult to ignore the sense that Arsenal are ready to pick up where they left off.
The new season has not even begun yet. Arsenal have already sent a message.
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