Arsenal comfortably beat Man City 3-0 in the 2026 FA Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
It took just 24 seconds for the current Premier League holders to go in front, thanks to Riccardo Calafiori after receiving a through-ball from Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Kai Havertz then doubled Arsenal’s lead with a well-worked move on the 28th minute, before Martin Odegaard then made it three, producing a beautiful finish.
And when Man City did try and spark a comeback, Arsenal players were there to keep their chances out, Gabriel giving a passionate response after stopping Jeremy Doku and Ben White with a vital block.
There were also cheeky chants from Arsenal fans towards the end of the game, singing “Is there a fire drill” with Man City supporters leaving the ground.
Ally McCoist said after the game, as per TNT Sports’ live blog: “It is effectively a pre-season game, but the gap between the two sides in this particular encounter is probably as big as any gap between the sides I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
Martin Keown meanwhile said: “People are saying Arsenal maybe didn’t let the handbrake off last season often enough. Well, they let it off today.
“The gap between the two teams, it was quite stunning to see Man City, the body language with the players and manager, they looked a bit lifeless as a group.
“I think Arsenal have made a real statement of intent with that performance. The bigger problem for Arteta now is, who do you pick?”
Joleon Lescott said: “I’m not surprised by Arsenal’s performance.
“That’s the worrying thing, they’re at this level so early on. It’s going to be a daunting time for everyone.
“Concerned is the right word [for City]. It’s the whole performance, really, and the gap. The worrying thing is the gap.”
First trophy of the season, secured ✅
FA #CommunityShield winners, @Arsenal 👏 pic.twitter.com/rbIYdN9GGV
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 16, 2026
Arsenal start the season with silverware 🏆
The Community Shield belongs to the Gunners!
📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/M6GqsGkRF7
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2026
Martin Odegaard was asked if this an opportunity to lay down an early marker this season, to which he replied: “I mean, yeah, for everyone to see our level. I think we showed our level today. I think we showed that we’re ready.
“I think we showed that we’re serious. We want to do it again. And there’s more trophies to go for, and that’s the aim. So, yeah, we’re well prepared, and we’re looking forward to the next one now.”
On it being the mindset for you as Premier League champions coming into this season and trying to defend that title like and how different is it, he responded: “No, we’re going to attack it. We want to it again.
“It was an unbelievable achievement and experience for all of us. When you get the taste of how nice it is, you want to do it again. There’s also a few other ones we want to take. We’re ready and I think we’ll show that today.”
Interviewer: “You mean the Champions League, right?”
Odegaard: “Of course. think at this club you’re going to win all of them. Of course, that’s a big one. But to be fair, we want to win everything and that’s the mindset. So let’s look for Friday now and hopefully get a good start in the league.”
“We wanted to start here with the first trophy” 🏆
Martin Ødegaard is delighted with Arsenal’s performance against Man City 👏
🎙️ @jules_breach | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/6W8DBoDhw7
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2026
“We showed our level and that we’re ready. We’re serious, we want to do it again.”
Arsenal and Martin Ødegaard send a message to the rest of the Premier League 🏆
🎙️ @jules_breach | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/S8bTbGdJy3
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2026
“I told the players I really enjoyed watching them”
Mikel Arteta loved what he saw from Arsenal in their dominant Community Shield performance 🔥
🎙️ @jules_breach | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/8qZ7NNANsL
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2026
“It’s really sad. They deserve to be in the squad.”
Mikel Arteta denies that Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri are set to leave Arsenal after being left out of the matchday squad ❌
🎙️ @jules_breach | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/UXOy744HT6
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2026
“It’s part of the transition for things not to be perfect at the beginning.”
Ruben Dias knows Man City will need time to adapt under Enzo Maresca ⏳
🎙️ @jules_breach | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/xd2bOhNHqA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2026
Here’s how fans reacted after Arsenal comfortably beat Man City 3-0 in the 2026 FA Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff…
@filberg_jonas: Great result, we’re ready to defend that Premier league title, Tzolis or Ødegaard motm for me. #CommunityShield #Arsenal #Cyg #ArsMci #Champions
@AFCBeeb: Thank you boys. Now let’s turn the full attention to Friday against Coventry. We go again this season.
@MisssMelina: Can I just say what a signing Tzolis has been for that price tag too, a steal 💥🔥🤌🏽. Instant impact every game he’s played in! COYG! Well done to the team today 👏🏽
@SilverSaltire: Some encouraging stuff there. Tzolis looks good, Odegaard had his best game in ages, Calafiori class. Night and day compared to our pre season stuff. Now go and get some signings in!
@NorthLondonMJ: 3-0 against City in a final. Clean sheet. Trophy. That’s how you start a season 😭🏆🔴⚪
@RockerSteve01: That’s one of the most enjoyable Arsenal games I’ve watched for a long time, played some great football. Huge statement for the season. #Arsenal #coyg #ARSMAN
@afcdmuz: What a performance man Odegaard looks back to his best Skelly and Bruno g absolutely brilliant. Tzolis with major contributions once again. Absolutely dominated city
@tobyasky: Arsenal are playing in a scary way. They might just win it back to back for the first time since 1935.
Arsenal 3-0.
Man City have to keep Rodri.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) August 16, 2026
Martin Ødegaard’s stats vs Man City:
95% pass accuracy
83% duels won
74 touches
9 ball recoveries
5 passes into final third
3/3 successful dribbles
2 shots on target
1 chance created
1 goalMan Of The Match. 😉🎖️#ARSMCI || #CommunityShield pic.twitter.com/K5rUMjo65U
— Statman James (@JamesStatman) August 16, 2026
Arsenal fans doing the ‘Poznan’ as they beat Man City 3-0 in the Community Shield…
👏😂😂😂
[@highburyhigh] pic.twitter.com/E8QeckmMHL
— Midnite (@midnite) August 16, 2026


