Arsenal began the 2026/27 season by claiming the Community Shield, defeating Manchester City 3-0 in Cardiff. Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard secured the trophy for Mikel Arteta‘s side. This victory marks Arsenal‘s second trophy in four months.
The match saw Arsenal take an early lead, with Calafiori scoring after 23 seconds following a pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly. Havertz then doubled their advantage in the 28th minute. Ødegaard sealed the win three minutes into the second half, completing an emphatic performance at Principality Stadium.
Maresca’s challenging start at City
For new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola over the summer, this was a difficult first competitive game. Maresca, however, downplayed the significance of the result, stating, “It’s a defeat that hurts us, but it’s just the beginning.” Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist noted that Manchester City received “a bit of a schooling,” adding that while it’s early, it is concerning for the club.
The underlying statistics highlighted Arsenal‘s dominance, as they created 2.19 expected goals (xG) compared to City‘s 0.77. This was Arsenal‘s largest victory to nil against Manchester City since August 2014, and City‘s heaviest defeat to nil against an English side since a 4-0 loss in November 2024 against Tottenham.
Arsenal captain Ødegaard expressed his satisfaction, telling TNT Sports, “We showed our level today. We’re showed we’re ready. We’re serious and we want to do it again.”
Squad changes and season outlook
Regarding transfers, Manchester City secured a £116m deal for England midfielder Elliot Anderson early in the summer, but have not made other first-team signings. Key players like Bernardo Silva and John Stones departed on free transfers, while Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and James Trafford were sold for substantial fees. Rodri is also set to join Barcelona in a £65m deal, with Chelsea‘s Enzo Fernandez mentioned as a potential replacement.
Arsenal, in contrast, have sold fringe players such as Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior, and Christian Norgaard. They have brought in first-team players Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, and made last season’s loanee Piero Hincapie a permanent signing. Tzolis particularly impressed in the Community Shield match, providing two assists.
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin observed that Elliot Anderson was “not fitting brilliantly well yet” at City, suggesting a period of transition for the club. He added that City fans should not worry about the team being in the top two or three, but noted that they appear “a wee distance behind” Arsenal.
Arsenal‘s stability, with Mikel Arteta continuing as manager, contrasts with several other ‘big six’ rivals who have new managers. Sports data analysts at Opta have made Arsenal favourites for the Premier League title, giving them a 38% chance of lifting the trophy. If they succeed, it would be Arsenal‘s first successful top-flight title defence since the 1934-35 season.
Nevin commented that Arsenal are favourites for the Premier League, highlighting that their current team is the result of “six years of build.” He believes the team is capable of becoming a “winning dynasty.” Arsenal will begin their Premier League title defence at home against Coventry on Friday.
Source: bbc.co.uk