Arsenal took the Community Shield (the English Super Cup), beating Manchester City on penalties. The victory of Mikel Arteta’s team could not have been more agonizing. Guardiola’s men took the lead in minute 77 with a great goal from young Cole Palmer (21 years old). Until then the game had been very even. The referee gave eight minutes of added time and at minute 100 Trossard equalized with a shot that Akanji deflected. On penalties, Arsenal scored the first four and De Bruyne and Rodri missed their shots at City. This is the third consecutive Community Shield that Guardiola has lost.
Until the draw, the hero of the afternoon at Wembley was Cole Palmer (21 years old), who had put the skyblues ahead for 77 minutes. Palmer is the youngest player to score in a Community Shield since Cesc Fabregas.
City started with the ball but Arsenal had the best chances of the first half, neutralized by goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Moreno, a German of Spanish origin. De Bryune did not start and Haaland barely touched the ball. The rookie Mateo Kovacic also went largely unnoticed.
The first clear chance was double, after 26 minutes. Kay Havertz was able to score on the swing, but Ortega cleared with one foot and then Martinelli smashed the ball into Stones’ chest, saving City. At minute 39 a great pass from Saka to the back left Havetz in a good position, but his early shot was once again cleared by the German goalkeeper.
At 57 minutes Guardiola made the first change: Grealish left and Foden entered. At 63 more changes. Haaland and Kovacic left the field of play and Cole Palmer and De Bruyne entered.
The changes improved the dynamics of City, who found their goal in minute 77 in a progression with an opening by Foden, a header from De Bruyne and a great thread from Palmer that beat Ramsdale. He was still able to score City 2-0 in minute 82 in a heads-up failed by Foden against the Gunners goalkeeper.
The referee granted eight minutes of added time and at 101, when the victory of Guardiola’s men was already being declared, the equalizer came through a desperate shot from Trossard that entered after touching Akanji. In the luck of penalties, the Gunners hit their first four shots through Odegaard, Trossard, Saka and Vieira. At City Bernardo Silva was right, but before he sent De Bruyne to the post and after the Portuguese Rodri missed.
