Arsenal have drawn first blood ahead of the new season by beating Manchester City on penalties to win the Community Shield.
Arsenal beat Manchester City 4-1 on penalties to lift the FA Community Shield on Sunday evening, following a keenly contested curtain-raiser for the 2023-24 Premier League season at Wembley.
In a tight encounter between last season’s top two in the Premier League, Cole Palmer came off the bench to score a wonderful opener for the Treble winners but Leandro Trossard’s late deflected effort sent the game to penalties where the Gunners prevailed.
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 minutes in Kai Havertz, 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, former Brighton forward Leandro Trossard took the contest to a shoot-out when his shot deflected in off Manuel Akanji and Arsenal completed the remarkable turnaround from the spot.
Manchester City will begin the Premier League new season on Friday when they travel to Turf Moor, to newly-promoted Burnley side managed by former captain Vincent Kompany, as they commence their title defense.
On the other hand, Arsenal will host Nottingham Forest on Saturday in a lunchtime kick off. Â
