Arsenal beat Manchester City on penalties to win Community Shield

Arsenal drew first blood in the 2023/24 season as they beat Manchester City on penalties at Wembley to win the Community Shield. Cole Palmer opened the scoring with a spectacular effort in the season curtain-raiser before Leandro Trossard equalised for the Gunners in the dying moments of stoppage time to send the game to penalties. Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri failed to convert their efforts in the shootout, while Fabio Vieira scored the winning spot-kick to give the Gunners their 17^th Community Shield title.

It was far from a pre-season affair in the London sunshine on Sunday as the two sides reignited their rivalry from last season’s dramatic finish to the Premier League season.

Pep Guardiola’s treble-winners dominated the early proceedings, pinning Arsenal back into their own half by controlling the majority of the possession. However, despite being on the back foot in the opening exchanges, the Gunners withstood the early waves of pressure without giving City any real opening and grew into the contest as the half wore on.

Kai Havertz was one of three summer signings in Mikel Arteta’s XI on Sunday, starting up front in the absence of the injured Gabriel Jesus, and went closest to scoring before the break. The German showed predatory instincts in the box but failed to convert two golden opportunities, with Stefan Ortega making a pair of vital saves before the break to keep the scores level.

Manchester City improved after half-time to reassert their control of the contest, with John Stones forcing a fine save from Aaron Ramsdale from a header. After just 13 touches and no shots on target throughout the game, a largely anonymous Erling Haaland was replaced by Cole Palmer in the 64th minute. The substitute proved decisive as the 21-year-old broke the deadlock with a fantastic, curled strike past Aaron Ramsdale to make it 1-0.

The Arsenal shot-stopper later made two vital saves from Phil Foden and Rodri to prevent City from doubling their lead, and Pep Guardiola’s side would go on to rue their missed opportunities as the Gunners equalised in the 101^st minute of the game. Leandro Trossard’s long-range effort trickled into the back of the net off a deflection from Manuel Akanji, levelling the scores to send the tie to penalties.

Kevin de Bruyne struck the crossbar before Aaron Ramsdale saved Rodri’s tame effort in the ensuing shootout. Arsenal, meanwhile, converted all four of their spot-kicks to lay down a marker to start the new season and hand City their third consecutive Community Shield defeat.