Arsenal beat Man City 3-0 to win Community Shield

Arsenal sent out a message of intent ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign when they beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield final on Sunday.

The team of Mikel Arteta took the opportunity provided by this pre-season competition to demonstrate that their desire for more success is not waning following their triumph in the Premier League.

The Gunners needed just 24 seconds to make their intentions clear, immediately putting new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca under pressure and setting the tone for a dominant performance.

Riccardo Calafiori’s quick-fire opening goal was followed by a clinical Kai Havertz header before half-time.

Arsenal overwhelmed sloppy City with their trademark intensity and Martin Odegaard netted after the interval to cap a resounding victory.

The glamour friendly at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium also allowed Arteta to parade Arsenal’s close-season recruits.

Bruno Guimaraes, signed from Newcastle for £75 million ($101 million), slotted into midfield with ease, while Christos Tzolis, lured from Club Brugge for £34 million, gave a lively display including two assists.

The north Londoners will start a campaign as champions for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

Already installed as favourites to win their first successive English titles since the 1930s, Arsenal look primed for a sustained spell as the Premier League’s preeminent force.

Their vibrant performance was the perfect warm-up before promoted Coventry visit the Emirates Stadium for the opening game of the Premier League season on August 21.

It was a dispiriting wake-up call for Maresca, who will have noted how much more dynamic and cohesive Arsenal looked compared to his spluttering team.

Pep Guardiola won 20 trophies in a glorious decade in Manchester, including the FA Cup and League Cup in his farewell season, but City haven’t won the title since 2024 and finished seven points behind Arsenal in second place last term.