Nigeria: Rampant Arsenal hammer Man City 3-0 to win Community Shield
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Arsenal sent out a bold statement ahead of the new Premier League season with a dominant 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Mikel Arteta’s side, now defending champions for the first time since 2004-05, showed no signs of slowing down after last season’s title triumph. They were sharp, intense, and clinical against a City team still finding its feet under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Arsenal needed just 24 seconds to take the lead — the fastest goal in the Community Shield since 1968.
Teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly picked out Riccardo Calafiori with a precise pass that split City’s defence. The left-back drove forward and finished calmly past Gianluigi Donnarumma from 12 yards.
The Gunners doubled their advantage in the 27th minute. Captain Martin Odegaard had time to deliver a cross to the far post, where new signing Christos Tzolis, unmarked, headed it back across goal. Kai Havertz rose above Ruben Dias to power the header home.
City, playing their first competitive game under Maresca, struggled to respond. Erling Haaland missed two decent first-half chances, while £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson failed to impose himself in midfield.
Arsenal put the game beyond doubt three minutes into the second half. Tzolis slipped the ball to Odegaard, who weaved through City’s defence before fooling Donnarumma with a clever dummy and tapping in from close range.
At that point the result was never in doubt. Arsenal’s pressing overwhelmed a sloppy City side, and Arteta used the game to showcase his summer business.
Bruno Guimaraes, signed from Newcastle for £75m, looked immediately at home in midfield. Tzolis, signed from Club Brugge for £34m, was lively and provided two assists.
For City, it was a reality check. Pep Guardiola won 20 trophies in 10 years at the club, including the FA Cup in his final season, but City haven’t won the league since 2024 and finished seven points behind Arsenal last term. Maresca, who left Chelsea in January, now faces a big task to close the gap. City begin their league campaign at home to Bournemouth on August 23.
Arteta said his squad remains “hungry” after last season’s title and May’s painful Champions League final penalty loss to PSG.
“Only City, in 2019, have gone on to win the league from the previous 15 Community Shield winners,” the stat line read. On this evidence, Arsenal look ready to break that trend.
The Gunners will open their Premier League title defence at home to promoted Coventry on August 21. After an 18th Community Shield win and a performance this commanding, they look primed for more silverware.
Martin Odegaard lifted the trophy as Arsenal celebrated in Cardiff — and if Sunday was anything to go by, it won’t be the last time this season.
