Arsenal secured a thrilling 4-1 penalty shootout victory against treble-winners Manchester City to claim the Community Shield at Wembley. The match was level at 1-1 after normal time, with Leandro Trossard equalizing for Arsenal in the 101st minute.
Manchester City appeared poised to add another trophy to their impressive year when Cole Palmer’s spectacular curling shot gave them the lead in the 77th minute. However, a late surge by Arsenal saw Trossard’s effort deflect off Manuel Akanji, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout.
During the penalty shootout, Kevin De Bruyne, returning from injury, hit the bar with his shot, and Rodri’s attempt was saved. On the other hand, Arsenal was faultless from the spot, with Martin Odegaard, Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Fabio Vieira all finding the net.
Throughout the 90 minutes, Arsenal showcased numerous positive performances, with new signing Kai Havertz having two good chances to put them ahead before the break. Other newcomers Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice also impressed, and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale made crucial saves to keep Arsenal in the game until the last moments.
Despite Manchester City’s early lead, Arsenal’s resilience paid off as they battled to secure the victory, providing them with a confidence boost for the upcoming season. Arsenal is now looking to challenge Manchester City for major honors in the Premier League title race this season.