Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City: Arsenal cruise to win Community Shield

Arsenal breezed to victory against Manchester City and Mikel Arteta’s side are now celebrating their success on the pitch.

Martin Odegaard hoists the Community Shield into the air in Cardiff and that’s one trophy already ticked off for the Gunners this season.

Here’s a look at the latest scenes at the Millennium Stadium as Arsenal head into the new Premier League season as the red-hot favorites to retain their crown.

Well, that was a statement of intent from Arsenal, wasn’t it?

Their squad looks ridiculously strong. Their players seem hungry to win back-to-back titles. And Mikel Arteta isn’t overcomplicating things with his new signings making perfect sense and Martin Odegaard is back to his best.

On the other hand Enzo Maresca has plenty to sort out at City in the post-Guardiola era, with Rodri’s future at the club the main concern. This display highlighted his importance.

Here’s a more in-depth look at 3 things we learned as Arsenal beat Man City.

Antoine Semenyo drills a beauty of a shot from inside the box and it looks destined to find the bottom corner.

But David Raya gets down low to his right and his strong right hand keeps it out.

City keep plugging away but this game was done and dusted after 47 minutes.

Just a few minutes to go before the final whistle blows and Arsenal lift the Community Shield.

Plenty of subs now for both teams as the game is pretty much over as a contest.

Declan Rice came on for Bruno Guimaraes at half time, while Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie are now on for Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori.

Jack Grealish came on for Jeremy Doku at half time, with Marc Guehi, Rayan Cherki, Rico Lewis and Omar Marmoush are all on for City too.

Dream start to the second half for Arsenal.

New signing Christos Tzolis continues to impress and his fine pass finds Odegaard in the box.

He calmly waits for Donnarumma to commit himself then slots home.

3-0 to Arsenal.

A cross from the left causes problems as Donnarumma can’t keep hold of it.

The ball squirms clear and Odegaard’s deflected shot from the floor is going in.

But Josko Gvardiol is there to clear it off the line with Nico O’Reilly also around.

“Sacked in the morning!” sing the Arsenal fans to Enzo Maresca.

2-0 to Arsenal at half time and although City have had a few chances, there is more zip and confidence from the Gunners.

Ben White is free down the right and his clipped cross finds Calafiori at the back post.

The ball is at an awkward height but he hammers the volley towards goal and it flies just over.

Arsenal just look more clinical, direct and confident in the final third.

Wave after wave of Man City attack now.

A cross comes in and Erling Haaland’s low finish looks certain to go in. But David Raya gets down well to save and Lewis-Skelly clears.

Seconds later City are in again as Semenyo’s cross finds Doku unmarked and his shot also looks certain to go in.

But Ben White launches himself at it and gets a slight touch on the ball to send it over.

Somehow it’s still 2-0 to Arsenal.

He’s been a pretty isolated figure so far but Erling Haaland is on the ball in the box.

However, his arch nemesis Gabriel pushes him wide and Haaland smashes well wide of the goal.

Arsenal’s fans enjoyed that one.

A cross from Odegaard finds Tzolis and he heads back well for Havertz to nod home.

Really poor defensively from Man City as Khusanov was caught napping.

Arsenal cruising.

City are keeping the ball now and create a decent chance.

A cross is whipped in from the right but it’s just too strong for Erling Haaland.

The giant striker was lurking and had space. A warning for Arsenal.

Arsenal get us underway in the Community Shield in Cardiff, and they are already ahead!

Just 23 seconds on the clock.

Straight from the kick off they keep the ball and then Myles Lewis-Skelly plays a superb through ball to Riccardo Calafiori.

The Italian left back slots home calmly and Arsenal lead 1-0.

Manchester City haven’t touched the ball and they’re behind.

Man City have gone pretty much full strength as Enzo Maresca is all in on winning a trophy in his first official game as their new manager.

Ruben Dias is skipper and he lines up alongside Gvardiol at center back.

New signing Anderson starts in midfield, with Rodri still not back as his future remains uncertain.

Semenyo, Foden and Doku start in attack to support Haaland.

Manchester City starting lineup

That is a very decent starting lineup from Arsenal with Mikel Arteta going with Lewis-Skelly, new signings Guimaraes and captain Odegaard in midfield.

The forward line is Madueke on the right, new signing Tzolis on the left and Havertz up top.

Having Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Merino, Zubimendi, Hincapie and Eze on the bench shows you the strength of this Arsenal squad.

Arsenal starting lineup

This clash between the winners of the Premier League and FA Cup is being played in Cardiff, Wales today at the Millennium Stadium. Why?

Well, usually Wembley Stadium hosts this game.

However, The Weeknd is hosting concerts at Wembley so the venue wasn’t available.

But the Millennium Stadium is no stranger to hosting these huge games.

When the original Wembley was demolished and rebuilt from 2001 to 2006 all FA Cup, League Cup, Football League playoff finals and Community Shield games were played in Cardiff.

Here’s how you can watch Arsenal and Man City scrap for the first piece of silverware this season.

How to watch Arsenal vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 10am ET Sunday, August 16
Venue: Millennium Stadium — Cardiff, Wales
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+

It’s tough to predict how this will go, because Pep Guardiola has been in charge of Manchester City for almost a decade and won pretty much everything. And now he’s not there.

Guardiola’s former assistant Enzo Maresca has the impossible job of replacing him, but the Italian coach will be about evolution rather than revolution.

City’s tactics should stay very similar and their squad is absolutely superb. Even if Rodri leaves in midfield, City’s resources means that Maresca will always have the top talent to work with and he loves to play football the same way Guardiola did at City.

That should ease this new era in nicely and when you have Erling Haaland around too, it helps.

The Norwegian striker had a sensational summer at the World Cup and will be hungry to prove he can spearhead City’s new era under Maresca. In theory, City should keep putting chances on a plate for Haaland game after game.

The signs are looking good for Arsenal to repeat as Premier League champions.

Arteta’s side have added Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis as their big summer signings so far and they are building from a position of strength.

Yes, William Saliba has a back injury and they’ve looked shaky defensively in preseason, but overall Arsenal’s squad is in a very good place and the confidence they got from finally winning the league will give them a huge boost and relieve plenty of pressure.

That fact, plus the likes of Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea all having new managers and being in transition, suggests that Arsenal are the clear favorites to win it all once again.