Arsenal dominated Manchester City with a 3-0 victory to claim their 18th English Super Cup, starting the season in grand style and high spirits.
The festive atmosphere in Wales witnessed a dominant start to the season for Arsenal. At the historic Millennium Stadium, the Gunners gave no quarter to Manchester City, the reigning English champions, delivering a convincing 3-0 rout.
The victory in the Community Shield, as the English Super Cup is known, marks the team’s 18th title in the competition, boosting the squad’s confidence for the 2026/2027 season.
Arsenal‘s dominant performance from the very first seconds of the match highlighted the club’s ambition. With goals from Calafiori, Havertz, and Odegaard, manager Arteta‘s side showcased engaging and effective football, thoroughly outplaying the Cityzens on the field.
Electrifying Start and Gunners’ Dominance
The match began with a true shock for Manchester City. In just 25 seconds, Arsenal opened the scoring with Calafiori, following a fine assist from Lewis-Skelly.
The lightning-fast goal set the pace, with the Gunners controlling possession and dictating play, while City, under Maresca, appeared nervous and imprecise on the counter-attacks. The Cityzens‘ first clear chance only came in the 19th minute, with a shot from Foden saved by Raya.
The London team’s superiority was confirmed before halftime. Odegaard crossed to Tzolis, who laid it off for Havertz to score the second goal, with a little “help” from goalkeeper Donnarumma.
Despite having the game firmly in hand, Arsenal conceded a few opportunities to their opponents. City had their best chances in quick succession, with Haaland denied by Raya and a shot from Doku blocked by the Gunners‘ defense. The first half concluded with a clear sense of Arsenal‘s overwhelming superiority.
Odegaard Secures the Trophy
Returning for the second half, both teams made substitutions, with Rice coming on for Arsenal and Grealish for City. However, the Gunners‘ momentum did not wane.
Within the first few minutes, Tzolis found Odegaard, who evaded Gvardiol and clinically finished past the onrushing Donnarumma, sealing the 3-0 scoreline.
With the outcome virtually decided, both coaches took the opportunity to test their squads, making numerous changes. For City, players like Guehi, Marmoush, and Cherki came on, while Arteta introduced Hincapié and Saka, among others.
Even with the game playing out like a friendly, the score remained unchanged, and Arsenal secured the first title of the season.
The perfect start to 26/27 pic.twitter.com/a7v0pCric4
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 16, 2026
Next Steps in the Premier League
The victory in the English Super Cup provides a significant boost to Arsenal, who now turn their focus to the Premier League opener.
The Gunners will face Coventry this Friday (21) at 4 PM (Brasília time) at the Emirates Stadium, looking to maintain their winning momentum. Meanwhile, Manchester City, who will have to digest this defeat, will play against Bournemouth next Sunday (23) at 10 AM in their first league fixture.
M360 Team
