Arsenal have begun the 2026/27 campaign with silverware after a dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday.

Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and captain Martin Ødegaard were on target as the Premier League champions produced an impressive display to defeat FA Cup winners Manchester City and give manager Mikel Arteta an early trophy. Blueprint reports

The victory also handed City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, a losing start in his first competitive match since succeeding Pep Guardiola.

Calafiori strikes after 23 seconds

Arsenal needed just 23 seconds to take the lead in spectacular fashion.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, deployed in midfield, picked out Calafiori with an excellent pass, allowing the Italian defender to calmly beat new City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The goal was the fastest scored in the Community Shield in 58 years and immediately set the tone for what became a difficult afternoon for City.

Arsenal looked sharper and more confident from the opening whistle, while City struggled to establish their usual control of possession and create clear opportunities.

Phil Foden came closest for City in the opening stages, forcing David Raya into a good save with a curling effort from distance.

Raya later denied Erling Haaland as Arsenal maintained their advantage.

Havertz doubles Arsenal’s lead

Arsenal continued to threaten and were rewarded with a second goal before half-time.

Captain Martin Ødegaard delivered a dangerous cross towards the far post, where new signing Christos Tzolis headed the ball back across goal.

Havertz reacted quickly and headed the ball towards goal, with Donnarumma unable to keep it out as Arsenal went into the break 2-0 ahead.

Tzolis, one of Arsenal’s summer additions, played a crucial role in the goal and would go on to make an even greater impact after the interval.

City, meanwhile, struggled to respond to Arsenal’s intensity and attacking movement.

Ødegaard completes Arsenal’s rout

Three minutes after the restart, Arsenal effectively put the contest beyond Manchester City.

Tzolis again provided the assist, setting up Ødegaard, who produced a composed finish after taking the ball beyond Josko Gvardiol before beating Donnarumma.

The Arsenal captain’s goal made it 3-0 and left City facing an uphill task with the game still having plenty of time to play.

Despite attempts to change the flow of the contest, Maresca’s side could not find a way through an Arsenal defence that remained disciplined throughout.

Haaland kept quiet

One of the biggest disappointments for City was the limited influence of Haaland.

The Norwegian striker, who finished last season as the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner with 27 goals, struggled to impose himself against Arsenal’s defence.

He was substituted before the hour mark after being largely kept out of the game.

City’s inability to create sustained pressure also meant Raya had relatively little trouble protecting Arsenal’s clean sheet after his early interventions.

The result highlighted the work still facing Maresca as he begins his tenure at the Etihad Stadium.

Arteta starts season with trophy

For Arteta, the victory provides an ideal start to a season in which Arsenal will be expected to compete for major honours on multiple fronts.

The Gunners ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title last season and will now enter the new campaign as champions with the added confidence of having defeated City in the traditional season curtain-raiser.

Arsenal have now beaten Manchester City four times in the Community Shield, maintaining their perfect record against City in the fixture.

Ødegaard said the victory demonstrated the team’s determination to build on last season’s success.

“We showed our level today, we showed that we’re ready,” the Arsenal captain said, adding that the team wanted to win more trophies.

Arsenal turn attention to Premier League

The Community Shield victory is only the beginning for Arsenal, with the Premier League title defence now the immediate priority.

Arteta’s men will open their league campaign against Coventry City on Friday, August 21, while Manchester City begin their season against Bournemouth on August 23.

For Arsenal, however, Sunday’s emphatic victory provides more than just another piece of silverware.

It is an early statement that the champions are ready to compete again, while the 3-0 defeat gives Maresca plenty to consider before City’s Premier League campaign begins.