Arsenal defeat Manchester City to lift Community Shield

 

Arsenal on Sunday won the Community Shield by defeating Manchester City on penalties, striking first blood at the start of the new EPL season. 

A stunning second half goal from Cole Palmer gave the Manchester side the lead but Leandro Trossard’s late deflection shot forced the game into  penalties, which the Gunners won.

Arsenal beat Manchester City 4-1 on penalties to lift the Community Shield following a keenly-contested curtain-raiser for the 2023-24 Premier League season at Wembley.

Fabio Vieira struck the winner as the Gunners prevailed via spot kicks after Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri had failed to convert for the Treble winners.

Mikel Arteta’s side had appeared to be on the verge of defeat following substitute Cole Palmer’s sublime opener, but a leveller 11 minutes into stoppage time via Leandro Trossard’s heavily deflected effort rescued a 1-1 draw to force a shoot-out.

Pep Guardiola’s men had been completely dominant in the early exchanges with Julian Alvarez just failing to make a significant connection with a header.

Arsenal, who handed their trio of summer signings debuts from the start, grew into the contest and had the best two opportunities of the first 45. New boy Kai Havertz had both chances but was brilliantly denied by City stopper Stefan Ortega on each occasion.

Man City stepped it up again in the second half and Palmer looked to have won it when he curved a delightful left-foot shot into the far corner 13 minutes from the end.

However, deep into stoppage time Trossard took the contest to a shoot-out when his speculative shot deflected in off Manuel Akanji and Arsenal completed the remarkable turnaround from the spot.