Arsenal did not exactly ease into the new season; they arrived at the Community Shield like a team with a point to prove. A convincing 3–0 victory over Manchester City handed the Gunners their I8th Community Shield trophy and, perhaps more importantly, delivered an early warning to the rest of the Premier League.
Riccardo Calafiori needed barely 23 seconds to break the deadlock, setting the tone before some supporters had probably finished settling into their seats. Kai Havertz then doubled Arsenal’s advantage with a header, while debutant Christos Tzolis immediately made himself useful by providing the assist.
After the break, Martin Odegaard added a third, calmly finishing the job and turning what was expected to be a competitive contest into something resembling an Arsenal training session with a trophy waiting at the end.
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Tzolis was one of the afternoon’s biggest stories, registering two assists on his debut and looking completely at home in Arsenal colours. City, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm and offered little response to Arsenal’s relentless pressure.
It was also a new beginning for Manchester City. With Pep Guardiola no longer at the helm, new manager Enzo Maresca has inherited the enormous task of following one of the most successful managerial eras in modern football. Judging a new manager after one competitive match would be premature, but this was certainly not the opening chapter Maresca would have imagined.
The difference was striking. This was not the Manchester City supporters became accustomed to watching under Guardiola, a side famous for controlling games, suffocating opponents and making football look almost unfairly simple. On Sunday, City looked more like a team still learning its new identity.
Arsenal, meanwhile, looked ready.
The Community Shield does not decide the Premier League title, but Arsenal could hardly have asked for a louder opening statement. They lifted the trophy, humbled one of their biggest rivals and reminded everyone that they are not entering the new campaign merely to participate.
The season has barely started, but Arsenal have already sent the message: they are coming.
