Arsenal have won the 2023/24 FA Community Shield, beating Manchester City 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium.
A deflected strike from Leandro Trossard in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time cancelled out Cole Palmer's wonderful opener as Arsenal ended an eight-match losing run against City, beating them for the first time since July 2020.
Introducing your 2023/24 FA Community Shield winners...
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 6, 2023
Congratulations @Arsenal! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/2eQbtLRu6A
Trossard was brought on by Mikel Arteta in the 75th minute and his strike took a huge deflection off Manuel Akanji that wrongfooted Stefan Ortega.
Arsenal's late equaliser came shortly after their goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, made great saves to deny Phil Foden and Rodri to keep his team in the match.
Those stops proved crucial as all four of Arsenal's penalty-takers scored in the shootout, while Kevin De Bruyne, on his return from injury, hit the crossbar before Ramsdale denied Rodri.
Four. Perfect. Penalties. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/7X8DRoYD1S
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 6, 2023
Man City looked like they were heading for victory after Palmer curled a beauty into the top corner in the 79th minute. The Academy product was brought on just after the hour for Erling Haaland, who failed to muster a single shot and has failed to score in three pre-season matches.
Arsenal started all three summer signings in Kai Havertz, who was twice denied in the first half by Ortega, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber. For Rice, it was the start to life at Arsenal he was hoping for.
"I'm absolutely buzzing," Rice said. "It's what I envisaged upon joining the club."
The win is Arsenal's 17th Community Shield success and the third consecutive season in which Pep Guardiola has lost the match.
But Man City went on to win the Premier League title in both of those seasons, famously winning the Treble last season, and interestingly only one of the past 12 Community Shield winners have gone on to lift the league title.
