Riccardo Calafiori scored the earliest goal in the Community Shield since 1968 to put Arsenal ahead after 23 seconds against Manchester City at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.
Full-back Calafiori reacted quickest to latch on to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s perceptive pass, arriving inside the box to slot in and condemn new City boss Enzo Maresca to a miserable start in the showpiece.
Riccardo Calafiori gives Arsenal the lead after just 24 seconds 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2026
The assist from Myles Lewis-Skelly 👏
📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/aU0UsCB1Xs
New signing Christos Tzolis then sent in a looping header for Havertz to nod in via Gianluigi Donnarumma’s gloves in the 28th minute as the reigning Premier League champions doubled their advantage over the FA Cup holders.
“The defence-splitting pass was good enough,” former Scotland striker Ally McCoist marvelled of Calafiori’s goal, calling Lewis-Skelly’s assist “beautiful” on TNT Sports.
“But the composure from the full-back for the finish… what an absolutely remarkable start.”
Kai Havertz finishes off a well-worked move to double Arsenal's lead 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 16, 2026
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Arsenal vs Manchester City: Flying start in Community Shield
Martin Odegaard’s swirling pass to the far post allowed Tzolis to peel away from Abdukodir Khusanov and set up Havertz’s goal with the Germany forward’s fourth touch of the contest.
“Brilliant from Tzolis,” said McCoist. “Khusanov switches off but Tzolis deserves enormous credit for coming in behind him.
“It’s a lovely header across and a wonderful finish. Brilliant goal. It’s the only place where Tzolis can put it so that Havertz can score.
“Arsenal are good for [2-0], make no mistake.”
Arsenal team vs Man City
Arsenal were without William Saliba, who is facing an extended spell out after aggravating a long-term back injury during France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain.
Jurrien Timber also remained sidelined with a groin problem and is understood to still be some weeks from a return, although head coach Mikel Arteta has described the full-backs progress as going “really well”.
New £75 million signing Bruno Guimaraes started in midfield, with Bukayo Saka on the bench alongside Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal starting XI: David Raya, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bruno Guimaraes, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Christos Tzolis, Kai Havertz
Arsenal substitutes: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Max Dowman, Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres
Man City team vs Arsenal
Winger Savinho and midfielder Rodri missed out through injury for City, with £117 million record signing Elliot Anderson in midfield and Erling Haaland leading the line.
Jack Grealish was among the substitutes.
Manchester City starting XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O’Reilly, Mateo Kovacic, Claudio Echeverri, Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku
Manchester City substitutes: Geronimo Rulli, Marc Guehi, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, Nico Gonzalez, Jack Grealish, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis
Where to watch Arsenal v Manchester City: TV and online streams
Kick-off on Sunday was at 15:00 BST. Live coverage in the UK is on TNT Sports, with streaming on HBO Max.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Community Shield stats
- Arteta has won all four of his Community Shield matches (two as a player, two as a manager) and is in charge of a club who have lifted the trophy 17 times, behind only Manchester United (21)
- Arsenal have won all three of their Community Shield matches against City, beating them 4-0 in 1934, 3-0 in 2014 and 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2023
- On the past 10 occasions when the game has been between the league champions and the FA Cup winners, the FA Cup holders have won eight times
- Calafiori’s goal was the first scored in the opening minute of the Community Shield since Bobby Owen for City against West Bromwich Albion in 1968, leading to a 6-1 win for his side at the club’s former home of Maine Road
- The Gunners played at the Millennium Stadium more times than any other side (10) when it was first used between 2001 and 2007.
- Maresca is the Man City manager to take charge of his opening game in the Community Shield, with Maurizio Sarri the last top-flight head coach whose first game came on this stage, overseeing a 2-0 Chelsea defeat to City in August 2018
- City beat United on penalties in their last Community Shield appearance in 2024, although only their Manchester rivals (10) have been runners-up in the game more times than City (9)
- Their only previous match at the Millennium Stadium was a 3-0 win over TNS in August 2003 in a UEFA Cup – now the Europa League – qualifying match
- They lost one of their last 12 matches in all competitions (W9 D2) in 2025/26 – a 2-1 league home defeat to Aston Villa in their final game of the campaign with the title out of reach
- Haaland was making his first appearance for City since the 2025/26 season, having missed their pre-season fixtures following his return from helping Norway reach the World Cup quarter-finals
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