Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on Sunday, opening their Premier League title-defence season with a convincing victory.
Riccardo Calafiori scored after 24 seconds, Kai Havertz added a first-half header and captain Martin Odegaard completed the win after the interval. The result also gave new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca a difficult first match in charge.
Arsenal’s fast start sets the tone
Arsenal took the lead when Myles Lewis-Skelly’s pass split the City defence and Calafiori finished from 12 yards. The goal was the quickest in the Community Shield since 1968.
The champions doubled their advantage in the 27th minute. Odegaard’s cross reached Christos Tzolis, who headed the ball back across the six-yard box for Havertz to score.
Odegaard completes the victory
Three minutes after half-time, Tzolis supplied Odegaard, who moved through the City defence before using a dummy to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range.
Tzolis, signed from Club Brugge for £34m ($46m), produced two assists. Bruno Guimaraes, who joined Arsenal from Newcastle for £75m ($101m), also made his debut in midfield.
What comes next for both teams
Arsenal will begin their Premier League campaign at home against promoted Coventry on August 21. It is the club’s first season starting as English champions since 2004-05.
Manchester City will host Bournemouth on August 23. City finished second last season, seven points behind Arsenal, and have not won the Premier League title since 2024.
Arsenal’s victory was their 18th Community Shield triumph. However, only Manchester City among the previous 15 winners, in 2019, went on to win the Premier League title that season.
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