Title-holders Arsenal delivered a statement performance in the Community Shield, thumping Manchester City 3-0 in Cardiff to send out a warning to all of their Premier League rivals.
The Gunners shocked City and their new boss Enzo Maresca with just 23 seconds on the clock when Myles Lewis-Skelly's sublime pass teed up Riccardo Calafiori to coolly convert the opener. The post-Pep Guardiola era couldn't have got off to a worse start for City.
Arsenal's ÂŁ34m summer signing Christos Tzolis then made the next two, heading across goal for Kai Havertz to force the second through Gianluigi Donnarumma before finding captain Martin Odegaard to tuck in a third just three minutes after half-time at the Principality Stadium.
Donnarumma was sat down by Odegaard for that goal and it summed up his poor performance behind a City defence which looked all over the place. They had needed Josko Gvardiol to clear Odegaard's effort off the line just before half-time when Donnarumma spilt the ball and the returning Bukayo Saka passed up two good chances to add more goals.
In contrast, Arsenal's backline, which had been questioned in pre-season after shipping eight goals in four matches, was robust. Their determination to shut City out was summed up when David Raya saved from Erling Haaland, Lewis-Skelly reached the rebound and then Ben White threw himself in front of a Jeremy Doku shot.
Haaland and ÂŁ116m Elliot Anderson were withdrawn after underwhelming and the absence of Barcelona target Rodri was impossible to ignore. Yet, as Maresca searches for the right formula after City's decade of success under Guardiola, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are primed to capitalise on their position of strength.
The last team to win the Community Shield and then win the Premier League title was Man City in 2018/19 when they landed a domestic treble. Subsequent success from winning this curtain-raiser is no guarantee but Sunday's victory looks like a launchpad for Arsenal as they go in search of back-to-back top-flight crowns for the first time in 91 years.
1: GOAL! Arsenal score inside 30 seconds, with Myles Lewis-Skelly jabbing the ball through for Riccardo Calafiori to coolly finish.
20: SAVE! David Raya gets down to keep out Phil Foden's shot from the edge of the box.
28: GOAL! Martin Odegaard clips the ball to the back post where Christos Tzolis nods it across goal for Kai Havertz to head through Gianluigi Donnarumma.
36: MISS! Jeremy Doku threads a pass for Erling Haaland but he skews his right-foot shot well off target.
38: YELLOW! Calafiori goes down in the box looking for a penalty from Abdukodir Khusanov's challenge but is booked for simulation.
40: SAVE! Raya parries Haaland's shot and Lewis-Skelly scrambles away the loose ball - but then Ben White has to block Doku's shot when Antoine Semenyo crosses.
43: CLOSE! White crosses for Calafiori to hit a volley but his effort goes wide.
45+1: OFF THE LINE! Josko Gvardiol scrambles the ball out of the City goalmouth after Martin Odegaard flicked the ball towards the net from a Donnarumma spill.
Half-Time: SUBS! Jack Grealish came on for his first Man City appearance since May 2025. Declan Rice also made his return to action for Arsenal.
48: GOAL! Martin Odegaard sits down Donnarumma and then prods in an Arsenal third from Tzolis' pass.
63: CHANCE! Great play from Odegaard and then Declan Rice as they work the ball to Bukayo Saka but his shot is wide of the near post.
80: OVER! Saka skies another good chance from Piero Hincapie's low ball.
81: SAVE! Raya is sharp to push away Semenyo's drive.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports:
"A really good performance so early in the season. To play at that level and to show the desire that we showed and their reaction. I was really impressed and I said to them that I really enjoyed watching them play.
"I'm a bit surprised because in pre-season, we had three different groups. Eight or nine arrived just five days ago to get tested, they trained two days and to play in that manner is extremely impressive. It tells you how much those players want it, the level of desire we have and the quality we have."
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard to TNT Sports:
"We wanted to start here with the first trophy. We played some brilliant football so it was a great performance, a great way to start the season so let's keep it going. It was good for everyone to see our level. We showed that we're ready, we're serious, we want to do it again and there's more trophies to go. We're well prepared and ready to go."
Man City boss Enzo Maresca:
"A big part of the game is in the first goal we concede. After the reaction is good. Before they score the second goal we had three or four chances to score. Then with the second goal it became more difficult.
"In general I'm always concerned - even when we win games! We just started. This is the beginning. We have many things to do better. Now we try to reset, analyse the game and think from Tuesday about the next game.
"The first goal we concede I didn't like. Then the second one there was no pressure on the ball. I don't know if it's for physical condition. We had many players - probably the club with more players at the World Cup."
Jack: "It's only the Community Shield but great to see the dominance in the performance from Arsenal and great to see them get at City. Thought Odegaard and Tzolis looked great and Mosquera was a rock. Hopefully a title-retaining season to come!"
Maz: "If I was a City fan I'd be worried. Really worried. Was dreadful. Like the first game of pre-season after two months off."
Scoth: "The Pep factor is gone and so is the fear factor."
Owen: "Well congrats to Arsenal from a City fan but I'm not worried in the slightest. Players getting used to a new manager that haven't played a game with him yet. However I will be worried if we put in that same performance against Bornemouth."
Danie: "Was not expecting that! I know it's only the Community Shield but Maresca said they'll be looking to win it and we destroyed them. Is Odegaard finally back? He was class today. That wasn't even our strongest team either - had few missing, feeling rather confident for the coming season."
Bud: "Could Tzolis be the signing of the season?"
