Arsenal have thrashed Manchester City 3-0 to win the 2026 Community Shield in Cardiff.
The Premier League champions made light work of the FA Cup holders at the Principality Stadium, to send a message to would-be contenders this season.
Riccardo Calafiori scored the opening goal for Arsenal inside the first minute, after collecting Myles-Lewis Skelly’s brilliant pass to break the deadlock. Kai Havertz made it two for the Gunners, when he headed home from Christos Tzolis header across goal to double the lead.
Arsenal were three ahead just minutes into the second half, when captain Martin Odegaard extended the lead. The Norwegian fooled Gianluigi Donnarumma with a dummy before stroking home as Arsenal took complete control.
City had 59% of the possession but struggled to create goalscoring opportunities in a disappointing display for Enzo Maresca’s side, who never got going in the Italian’s first fixture at the helm.
Arsenal’s 3-0 win equalled the record for the biggest win in a Community Shield clash this century, matching their own three-goal lead over Manchester City in 2014.
Arsenal captain Odegaard says Gunners want to win everything after Community Shield success
“We played some brilliant football. Great performance and a great way to start the season,” Odegaard told TNT Sports.
“I always want to help the team as much possible with goals and assists. I want to score more goals. We showed our level today. We’re showed we’re ready. We’re serious and we want to do it again.
“We want to attack it. We want to do it again. When you get a taste of how nice it is you want to do it again. We want to win everything.”
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