🔬 The Debrief: Arsenal beat Man City to lift silverware in season opener | OneFootball

Arsenal beat Manchester City on penalties to win the Community Shield as the 2023/24 campaign got underway.

Here we break down what happened at Wembley.

What happened?

Arsenal got revenge (of sorts) over Manchester City after missing out on the title last season by beating Pep Guardiola’s men on penalties.

Cole Palmer had given the champions the lead but Leandro Trossard’s 101st-minute equaliser took the game to penalties where Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri missed to give the Gunners the first piece of silverware of the campaign.

Man of the Match

Aaron Ramsdale produced a performance that will leave Mikel Arteta with a lot to consider.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya in the last week, a move that would leave Ramsdale’s place in the team under a threat.

But the 25-year-old produced two stunning saves to deny Phil Foden and Rodri in normal time before thwarting the Spaniard again in the shootout.

Match-winning contribution.

Key Detail

As mentioned above, Ramsdale’s save from Foden’s close-range effort proved to be pivotal but the impact of Leandro Trossard gave Arsenal extra impetus in attack.

The Belgian replaced the ineffective Gabriel Martinelli in the 75th minute and once they got over the shock of conceding they looked a whole lot more threatening, with Trossard’s direct running and desire to develop shooting angles giving his team an attacking dimension they were missing.

Stat of the Match

Erling Haaland managed just 13 touches before being being substituted in the 64th minute on a quiet day for the Norwegian.

Pep Guardiola has now the last three Community Shield matches he has faced, but he won the league title at the end of the season the previous two occasions.

Something for City supporters to cling on to.

What this means

This match may be nothing more than a glamorous friendly but looking at the faces on the Arsenal players, staff and supporters on the final whistle suggests it meant a whole lot more to them.

They have lost their last eight encounters with City in all competitions so any victory, major or minimal, will likely give Mikel Arteta a slight psychological boost in his crusade to chase the champion down this season.

It’s first blood to the apprentice over the master in 2023/24.

What they said

Aaron Ramsdale: “It’s a marker to know we can go and beat Man City in a big game, when it matters. I’m not sure what it will be like going through the season, but we now have that mental block gone.”

Pep Guardiola on the new added time rule: “Today was eight minutes. Imagine what happens when the game is 4-3. You add on 30 seconds for seven goals.”

What comes next?

Manchester City get their title defence underway against Vincent Kompany’s Burnley next Friday with Arsenal facing Nottingham Forest the next day.