What a way to head into the new season!
Arsenal produced an emphatic performance in Cardiff to beat Manchester City 3-0 and lift the Community Shield, giving Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions their first silverware before the title defence begins against Coventry City on Friday.
Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard did the damage, while Christos Tzolis continued his impressive start to life at Arsenal with two assists.
After some questionable defensive displays during pre-season, a 3-0 victory and clean sheet against City was quite the response.
Calafiori gives Arsenal a dream start
Arsenal couldn’t have asked for a better opening.
Just 23 seconds had been played when Myles Lewis-Skelly produced a superb pass to release Calafiori, who finished calmly to give the Gunners an almost immediate 1-0 advantage.
City barely had time to settle into Enzo Maresca’s first competitive game in charge before Arsenal struck again.
This time Tzolis provided the delivery for Havertz, who headed home after 28 minutes to double Arsenal’s advantage.
City threatened through Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, but David Raya dealt with what came his way as Arsenal took a deserved two-goal advantage into the break.
Odegaard finishes the job
If Maresca was hoping for a response from his players after half-time, Arsenal quickly put an end to that idea.
Just three minutes after the restart, Tzolis was involved again, setting up Odegaard to make it 3-0 and effectively put the Community Shield beyond City’s reach.
The Greek international has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers during pre-season, and another two assists against City won’t do his chances of featuring heavily once the Premier League gets underway any harm whatsoever.
Bruno Guimarães was also in the staring XI after he made his Arsenal debut appearance for the club against Como in midweek, adding another glimpse of the midfield options Arteta will have available this season.
A trophy and a statement from the champions
There was plenty to like about this performance.
Three goals, a clean sheet and another trophy – all against Manchester City and while Arsenal were without William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.
After defensive concerns during pre-season, shutting City out was perhaps every bit as encouraging as what happened at the other end.
The Community Shield may be the traditional curtain-raiser, but both Arteta and Maresca had made it clear beforehand that they wanted to win it.
Arsenal did considerably more than that.
They dominated City 3-0 and reminded everyone why they head into the new Premier League campaign as champions.
Next stop: Coventry City at the Emirates on Friday night.
COYG!
What did you make of that performance, Gooners? Who was your Man of the Match, and how impressed have you been with Tzolis so far? Let us know in the comments.
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That was a very welcome performance and result I wasn’t expecting. We seem to have our Odegaard back too!
Yes, the captain was fantastic today.
Just like I predicted, the partnership between Rice and Bruno will be to the advantage of Odegaard.
Tsolis! What a player….
After one game in a friendly ,yea he’s back .
Not to mention how well he was playing at the end of last season and during the WC too…
I thought he had a good World Cup as well mate ?
I would say even before the World Cup – he was great against Burnley and West Ham
lol😂
It was an impressive performance from this group of Arsenal players, Tzolis has an eye for assist never looks selfish, Saka needs to be a team player also, Gabriel Magalhaes what a player,Raya also it is good that we have him on our side, Odegaard and Kai Havertz also played very well.
Bruno Guamares is a quick forward thinking player, declan rice always like to play it safe. Looks like pressure is off and we are back to 22/23 free flowing attacking football.
I can’t think of any elite left winger that would do more than tzolis in the market right now so no need to waste our money as I am backing him for first choice.
Yeah I think the Bruno’s impact is going to surprise fans this season. He makes our midfield more attack oriented.
yeah and will get some goals as well I think
Arsenal were a class act this afternoon, a nice statement from Arteta and the boys, more of the same for the season ahead!
Only minus was Guimarez going of with an ice pack strapped to his leg. Bring on Friday and lets go.
Odegaard slowly turning into the player 2years ago, and the signs are good if he continues on the same trajectory. Saka getting into his speed was encouraging. He made a couple of good runs on that wing.
If there is one player I can sale btn Martinelli and Madueke I’ll gladly go for the latter. Martinelli can play either wing.
So far so good for Zolis, hope it goes on into the season. And Raya, I’m just worried for us if he misses any games these season. Great saves today
Saka , madueke, martinelli, downman , gyokeres can all learn from tzolis, when you are around the box, regardless of the skill decision making has to be 20/20 that is why tzolis is very dangerous
Arteta showed why he’s still the best EPL manager after Guardiola
Raya was a major factor of our EPL/ UCL achievements last season and he proved it again in the match
Magalhaes and Guimaraes showed good physicality and technical skills
Lewis-Skelly was a major factor of our performance in the second half of last season and he showed it again why he should start in the left DM position ahead of Rice. He made Arsenal able to pass the ball quicker to the left wing with his stronger foot
Odegaard showed why he managed to dominate Brazil midfield with Berge in World Cup. Eze can’t cut inside as good as Odegaard does from our right wing
Madueke was lively as usual, but he needs to improve his final ball and shots. Tzolis produced several very good passes and helped Calafiori a lot at defending
Havertz helped our midfield and was committed to aerial duels more than Gyokeres did. Hopefully the Swedish will improve his performance soon, because I don’t think Arsenal will sign a new CF this summer
Haverz didn’t win one high ball, except his mis hit header for the goal. He got beat every single time in the middle of the park.
I support you GAI
Thank you JA yeah we blew them away emphatically. Statement win yes! Loved it so much when City players astonishingly stared at regurgitating things when Arsenal players lifted the Shield trophy.
For the best player for me between Tzolis and Odegaard. The former for completing the match. The 18th CS for Arsenal 3 less than the frontrunner Utd. Catchable!
I think the City players were probably a bit shell shocked.
I mean they played their strongest 11 today, and added 3 of the best players in the league over the last 2 windows to build toward more titles and trophies.
And they still get beaten 3-0. Pep knew.
Everyone singing Odegaard’s praise, i said before the wc that he’s not getting sold this summer regardless of any form he was/is in.
anyways, into the new season we march on! COYG!
Surprisingly all goals presented to us by the Left Footed Production (a header) in Calafiori, Havertz and Odegaard.
Hincapie sorry he missed: only one who got away without shaking the hands of the medal presenter!
what a result! It seems the shocking pre-season performances were nothing really to take seriously! A big win against Mancity, a trophy already in the bag.. Tzolis I must say I misjudged him, he definitely looked good today. I was hoping for 1-nil win but 3?! Haha this is a very good sign.
I was at the Como game and he was excellent. Doesn’t look like a one hit wonder
With this sublime performance by Arsenal, it bodes well for the upcoming season. If Martin Odergaard can play in this way all season, then it is like getting a whole new class player.
It is always s nice feeling winning games, even better against the likes of city while dominating the way we did.
Now that they have raised my expectations their is no going back
MLS. The stand out for me. Very impressive shift from the young lad.
Great performances all around I thought. I cant believe MLS was ever linked with leaving this club when he has such clearly high potential and is playing at at high level even now. We are spoilt with midfield options. And the attack today surprisingly was very alert, energetic and Tzlois brought a lot of decisiveness. Also, must mention Odegaard who has been pulling out appearances we haven’t seen in 2-3 seasons. If he can play at this kind of level again we can retain the title. Still I hope we get one more attacking signing that really catapults this team to being deadly. Also, worth mentioning Rodri is on his way to sign for Barca, Pep & Rodri’s reign of terror finally over. Arteta’s turn?
City missing Pep and their two best players, Rodri and Silva, are going to struggle. Today was no yardstick but the future without those, is not good.
2 best players? Both are Better than Haarland?
Footballers yes. Haarland is a goalscorer, without those two he won’t benefit in any way. Rodri and Silva have been instrumental in club and country honours. City will miss them badly.
Reggie, looks like they will be without Rodri for good, as it seems Barcelona and City have agreed on a fee for him.
Yes, thats what I am on about. Those 3 gone, is massive. HUGE!!!!!
100%. We saw the drop off while Rodri was out injured the last few seasons already. He’s really been the lynchpin of that whole squad. Anderson has huge shoes to fill there.
The EPL will be there for the taking….Advantage Arsenal who will start as favorites on account of stability and continuity…..better not bottle it!
Arsenal’s team-defending good.
Maintain that and we should have a great season especially with Raya not showing any signs of letting off from where he ended last season
Tzolis
Odegaard
Skelly
Bruno
Calafiori
Raya
These players were exceptional today.
Looking forward to Friday against Coventry.
Hopefully we get the 3 points to kickstart our EPL title defense.
Bruno exceptional? Played only the first half
He played very well in that 45 minutes.
3 – 0 and the Transfer window is shut yet, so the Team / Squad an still be strengthened further. Tzolis for £34M is a STEAL if he keeps up these performances throughout the season.
The real business starts with the match against Coventry – but this need to be the Baseline.
Nothings Guaranteed – But it’s looking pretty good.
Let’s not forget the excellent performances of our back five.
White and Califiori were back to top form and when Hincapie came on, it was a change that didn’t stop the fluidity down our left hand side one iota.
Both centre backs were solid as a rock, while Raya never stops amazing me with his performances.
What a squad of players we have accumulated under MA, the bench today was unbelievable!!
Apologies for Typo’s
An enjoyable exhibition game with lots of promise. Some pockets of really good football from Arsenal. Hope the momentum can be carried over onto Friday and beyond.
After the demolition Maresca is calling out for reinforcements, new signings. After the shock SOS.
Rodri is certain to go to Barca for 65m. Most probably the Chelsea’s Enzo reunites with Enzo
I agree with those pointing out what a loss Bernard, Rodri and Pep are.
But it’s more than that, I thought their bench looked weak. The strong spine of their side and depth of squad seems to have transformed over the last couple of years.
And I know I sound a scratched record, but Haarland isn’t the player he was 12 months ago – he has some sort of issue.
What if today’s failure is down to Maresca? What if his appointment doesn’t work?
Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Spurs, what if none of these appointments work?
Is Alonso all that? One success one failure and Chelsea is a tough gig. The new Liverpool manager probably had more strengths in depth at Bournemouth than inherited at Pool.
What if none of these five new managers work out?
In outright wins (excluding shared) Arsenal and Man Utd are tied with 17 Community Shield titles. Utd 4 and Arsenal 1 shared titles.
Good result, and good for the confidence to. While I personally don’t rate the Community Shield like some do, it is never the less nice to win.
I thought the team played pretty well to. Skelly was very good, and his pass for Calafiori was eye-catching.
Tzolis has looked impressive in pre-season, lets hope he can translate that to the League. And just a word on Odegaard, while I’m not about to start saying that Odegaard is back like some poster’s are, I will say he did look better today than he has done for quite a while.
I particularly like him sitting their keeper down before scoring. And like Tzolis, lets hope that Odegaard gets back to more of his 2022/2023 season performances.
Overall a good team performance and some more minutes in those legs. COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
Very nice comment DEREK except the delay. Next time hope it’ll come on Friday not Saturday. Just to
Amba,
I feel like a student being scolded for giving his homework in late lol.
DEREK,
You were the 49th poster unusual from the regular you; maybe related with the worthiness of the win as reflected in your earlier posts.