Ødegaard, Havertz and Calafiori Fire Arsenal to Community Shield Glory as City Suffer Maresca DefeatØdegaard, Havertz and Calafiori Fire Arsenal to Community Shield Glory as City Suffer Maresca DefeatMartin Ødegaard completed Arsenal’s scoring as the Gunners overwhelmed Manchester City 3-0 in Cardiff to claim the 2026 FA Community Shield and secure their 18th title in the competition.
Arsenal took control almost immediately at the Principality Stadium, with Calafiori opening the scoring after just 24 seconds. The defender’s strike set the tone for a one-sided contest and was followed by Havertz’s 28th-minute header to give Arteta’s side a 2-0 lead at the interval.
Ødegaard added the third three minutes after the restart, completing an impressive attacking sequence and leaving City with no way back into the contest. The Arsenal captain subsequently lifted the trophy as the Gunners celebrated their latest Community Shield success.
The performance was particularly significant given the quality of the opposition. Arsenal entered the fixture as Premier League champions, while Manchester City were the reigning FA Cup winners, setting up the traditional season curtain-raiser between the holders of English football’s major domestic honours.
Arsenal’s dominance was also reflected in their defensive performance. David Raya kept a clean sheet, while City’s attack struggled to consistently threaten the Arsenal goal. Erling Haaland was largely contained as Arsenal maintained control of the contest.
The defeat, meanwhile, leaves Maresca with plenty to address before City’s competitive league campaign begins. His appointment marks a new era following Guardiola’s departure, and the Community Shield represented his first official match in charge.
For Arsenal, the 3-0 victory provides an early boost after last season’s historic Premier League triumph. The FA Community Shield may traditionally be regarded as a curtain-raiser rather than a defining trophy, but the manner of Arsenal’s victory — particularly against Manchester City — has immediately raised expectations around Arteta’s side ahead of the new campaign.