Arsenal 1-1 (4-1 P) Manchester City: Match report, player ratings, fan reaction & more

The prelude to the 2023/24 Premier League season played out on Sunday as Arsenal faced Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Arsenal will have been desperate to get one over on Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s side did the double over them, knocked them out of the FA Cup and beat them to the Premier League title last term.

When all was said and done at Wembley, Arsenal came out on top.

The first chance of the tie fell to Manchester City as Manuel Akanji crossed to Julian Alvarez but Arsenal dealt with the cross well.

Thomas Partey then gave the ball away on the edge of the Arsenal box, which allowed Rodri to smash an effort just wide of Aaron Ramsdale’s post.

Arsenal’s first chance of the game came 24 minutes in when Ben White burst into the box and played a pass just behind Kai Havertz, who saw his shot saved by Ortega. Saka carved out the next chance of the game, once again down the right, cutting inside from the right and curling an effort wide.

Kai Havertz then probably should have put Arsenal in front after 39 minutes when Saka found him in the City box but his shot was saved well by Ortega.

A huge chance for a debut goal for Kai Havertz 😮#CommunityShield pic.twitter.com/z6jNQxLdtA
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 6, 2023

The half-time whistle blew with the score level and City yet to have a shot on target.

The match opened up a bit more in the second half but the Sky Blues were still seeing a lot more of the ball.

Manchester City broke the deadlock after 76 minutes with substitute Cole Palmer bending in a sensational effort from the right of the box.

Phil Foden should have killed the game off after 81 minutes when he picked the ball up in the Arsenal box, but Ramsdale made an excellent save.

Mikel Arteta responded to going behind by bringing on Eddie Nketiah for Declan Rice but it was another sub who handed Arsenal an equaliser. Trossard’s effort took a major deflection off Akanji and went the wrong side of Ortega.

You would not believe it!! 🤯

Arsenal have found an equaliser with 100 minutes on the clock! 😳 pic.twitter.com/i7CO6zWfGD
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) August 6, 2023

This meant the game went to penalties as there is no extra time in the Community Shield.

Kevin De Bruyne missed Man City’s first penalty of the day after Martin Odegaard scored the opener. Rodri then saw his penalty saved by Ramsdale to hand Arsenal a 3-1 lead before Vieira scored the winner for the Gunners.

Player ratings

Arsenal

GK: Aaron Ramsdale (7)
RB: Ben White (7)
CB: William Saliba (7)
CB: Gabriel (6.5)
LB: Jurrien Timber (6.5)
CDM: Declan Rice (6.5)
CDM: Thomas Partey (6)
CM: Martin Odegaard (6)
RW: Bukayo Saka (7)
ST: Kai Havertz (6)
LW: Gabriel Martinelli (6)

Substitutes

Leandro Trossard (7)
Kieran Tierney (4)
Eddie Nketiah (4)
Fabio Vieira (N/A)
Emile Smith Rowe (N/A)

Manchester City

GK: Ortega Moreno (7.5)
RB: Kyle Walker (6)
CB: Ruben Dias (6)
CB: John Stones (7)
LB: Manuel Akanji (6)
CDM: Rodri (6)
CM: Matteo Kovacic (6.5)
CM: Bernardo Silva (6)
RW: Julian Alvarez (6)
ST: Erling Haaland (6)
LW: Jack Grealish (6)

Substitutes

Phil Foden (5)
Cole Palmer (7)
Kevin De Bruyne (6)

Match reaction

The Arsenal giving City too much respect in the early stages. #CommunityShield
— Alan Cody 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@goonercody) August 6, 2023

Partey can't play against the lines of City. He is too slow to turn on the all #CommunityShield
— Some guy (@nosirnotabot) August 6, 2023

@arsenal still not quite getting the spacing just right in midfield. Not playing poorly... but it seems like this group is still learning to play together. Our back line has looked solid. #ARSMCI #CommunityShield #COYG
— Dwight Barnes (@dwight_barnes) August 6, 2023

Arsenal did some really good business this transfer window, though it is not reflecting in this game. #CommunityShield
— Kurt Ellis 🇿🇦 (@realKurtEllis) August 6, 2023