Order the match programme from this game.
Arsenal claimed the first silverware of the new season with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester City in the FA Community Shield at Wembley.
Kevin de Bruyne missed from the spot and Aaron Ramsdale saved Rodri’s effort as the Gunners won 4-1 on penalties.
Cole Palmer’s stunning strike looked to have given City the win, but Leandro Trossard’s deflected effort in the 11th minute of stoppage time forced the tie to penalties.
In their first game since clinching the treble, City were short of their clinical best, with Arsenal new signing Kai Havertz going closest in the first half.
City improved after the break and found the breakthrough in the 77th minute before Manuel Akanji diverted Trossard's effort past Stefan Ortega with the clock in the red.
This team never gives up ✊ pic.twitter.com/yUnVbtkEkm
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 6, 2023
The momentum stayed with Arsenal into penalties, with Fabio Vieira scoring the decisive kick, ending the Gunners eight-game winless streak against City.
The first half-chance of the afternoon fell the way of the league champions, as Akanji’s looping cross sparked panic inside the Arsenal box, but Ben White’s last-ditch clearing header denied Bernardo Silva a near-certain goal.
City continued to dictate the early knockings and Rodri was the next to go close, with his daisy-cutter brushing the outside of Aaron Ramsdale’s post before a similar effort from Julian Alvarez drifted further wide.
White then showed off his attacking instincts with a fine run inside Akanji and his quick cutback found Havertz, who on the turn produced a smart reflex save from Ortega.
Gabriel Martinelli then charged onto the rebound but a sea of City bodies blocked a clear sight of goal, with John Stones the man to get the key block.
Arsenal grew in confidence from there and crafted an even greater chance for Havertz but Ortega was again equal to it, with a great save low down to his right.
After a first half where Arsenal stopper Ramsdale was not tested once, he was called into action at the beginning of the second period, parrying Stones’ header from an Alvarez corner clear of danger.
Guardiola then made changes where Arteta did not, and it was three of those late arrivals who combined to make one of the game's decisive contributions.
Phil Foden spun away from Thomas Partey before drifting away to Arsenal’s exposed left-hand side. Kevin de Bruyne then nodded Kieran Tierney’s attempted clearance into Palmer’s path, and he cut inside before curving a brilliant effort into the top corner of Ramsdale’s goal.
OH MY WORD COLE!!!!!
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 6, 2023
🔴 0-1 🔵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/cTwC408BGP
The Arsenal keeper then made two superb saves to deny City a second, as his inner thigh thwarted Foden from close range before Rodri’s near-post header required a quick low stop.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta then threw on several of his young attackers in the hope of forcing the tie to penalties, but it was 28-year-old Trossard who made the impact, striking towards goal with his left foot from the angle of the box before defender Akanji deflected the ball past a helpless Ortega.
Martin Odegaard scored from the spot for Arsenal before De Bruyne blasted onto the bar. Arsenal stayed a nose ahead from there, and after Rodri’s attempt was pushed clear by Ramsdale, Vieira rifled home to send the red half of Wembley into raptures.
Arsenal: 1 Aaron Ramsdale, 2 William Saliba, 4 Ben White, 5 Thomas Partey, 6 Gabriel Magalhaes, 7 Bukayo Saka, 8 Martin Odegaard, 11 Gabriel Martinelli, 12 Jurrien Timber, 29 Kai Havertz, 41 Declan Rice
Substitutes: 19 Leandro Trossard for Martinelli 74’, 3 Kieran Tierney for Timber 74’, 14 Eddie Nketiah for Rice 79’, 10 Emile Smith Rowe for Gabriel 87’, 21 Fabio Vieira for Havertz 87’
Substitutes not used: 15 Jakub Kiwior, 16 Rob Holding, 18 Takehiro Tomiyasu, 30 Matthew Turner
Yellow cards: Partey 8’, Havertz 27’, Gabriel 66’
Goals: Trossard 90+11’
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Manchester City: 18 Stefan Ortega, 2 Kyle Walker, 3 Ruben Dias, 5 John Stones, 8 Mateo Kovacic, 9 Erling Haaland, 10 Jack Grealish, 16 Rodrigo, 19 Julian Alvarez, 20 Bernardo Silva, 25 Manuel Akanji
Substitutes: 47 Phil Foden for Grealish 58’, 80 Cole Palmer for Haaland 63’, 17 Kevin de Bruyne for Kovacic 63’
Substitutes not used: 4 Kalvin Phillips, 14 Aymeric Laporte, 21 Sergio Gomez, 82 Rico Lewis, 87 James McAtee
Yellow cards: Alvarez 31’
Goals: Palmer 77'
Manager: Pep Guardiola
