Arsenal crushed Manchester City 3-0 on Sunday at the Principality Stadium to lift the Community Shield, handing Mikel Arteta an emphatic curtain-raiser and leaving new City boss Enzo Maresca to taste defeat in his first game in charge.
It is Arsenal’s fourth straight win over City in this fixture, and it could not have been more comprehensive. Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and captain Martin Odegaard all found the net in a performance that screamed intent.
23 Seconds to Silence the Doubters
Any questions about Arsenal’s pre-season form were obliterated in under half a minute. Myles Lewis-Skelly, deployed in midfield, threaded a perfect ball to Calafiori. The left back stayed ice cold and slotted past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It was the first goal in the opening minute of the Shield in 58 years, and it set the tone.
Arsenal looked fitter, sharper and hungrier. Phil Foden and Erling Haaland tried to respond, but David Raya stood tall to keep a clean sheet. Haaland, last season’s 27-goal Golden Boot winner, was kept so quiet he was withdrawn before the hour.
New Faces, Ruthless Finish
Arsenal doubled the lead when Odegaard’s cross was headed back by new signing Christos Tzolis for Havertz to power home, with Donnarumma fumbling it over the line.
Three minutes into the second half it was 3-0. Tzolis turned provider again, slipping Odegaard in. One delicate touch past Josko Gvardiol, one composed finish, and the game was gone.
Eyes on More Silverware
“We showed our level today. We’re serious. We want to do it again,” Odegaard said.
Arsenal open their Premier League title defense on Friday against Coventry City, and the captain made it clear: they are coming to attack, and they want the big one that got away last season, the Champions League.
