Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Koscielny, Chambers, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Alexis, Cazorla, Sanogo
Subs: Martinez, Monreal, Flamini, Campbell, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud
Arsenal added the 2014 Community Shield to the trophy cabinet after a 3-0 triumph over a lacklustre Man City at Wembley today.
With new boys Alexis, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy all starting, the Gunners started the game brightly, bossing possession and creating some half chances on what looked like a heavy Wembley pitch.
Yaya Sanogo might have done better with a back post header before Debuchy got out quickly to prevent Nasri getting a sight of goal. Some great build-up play saw a Kieran Gibbs effort blocked by his ancestor Gael Clichy, and more slick passing was scuppered by Debuchy wandering offside in the final third.
In the 22nd minute though, Arsenal got the goal they deserved. Santi Cazorla picked the ball up inside the D, turned Clichy inside out and drilled a left footed shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Moments later more excellent football from the men in red and white saw a chance fashioned for Yaya Sanogo, but with a chance to score his first competitive goal for the Gunners, he dragged a shot just wide.
Defending well against City’s set-pieces, Arsenal broke quickly with Sanchez, ending up with a Cazorla shot that deflected just wide. From the resulting corner, Sanogo got a header on target which Caballero had to deal with.
City struggled to create much but did spark some danger in the 38th minute when a low Kolarov cross almost came to Nasri but the recently retired French international scuffed his shot. Shortly afterwards, City had a free kick which saw the first appearance of vanishing spray in English football but they made a pig’s bollix of it and I did a laugh.
Edin Dzeko created some danger down the right hand side with a storming run in the 41st minute, but Arsenal got numbers in the box to snuff out the chance.
And it was to prove costly to the Premier League champions. As Arsenal worked the ball out of defence, Wilshere found Sanchez down the right hand side. The Chilean played it into Yaya Sanogo who held it up well, found the onrushing Ramsey who took a brilliant first touch, stepped inside and fired home into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 to the Gunners.
Alexis almost made it 3-0 but City keeper Willy Caballero raced out of his goal to clear before he had a chance to shoot, but the 2-0 lead Arsenal took into the half-time break was well deserved.
Arsene Wenger made some half-time changes to keep his squad fresh and continue the physical preparations for the new season. Nacho Monreal, Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for Laurent Koscielny, Yaya Sanogo and Alexis.
There appeared to be a bit more zip about City in the second half, especially with the introduction of David Silva, and in the 53rd minute Jovetic hit the post with a looping header as Arsenal struggled to get a floated cross clear.
Jovetic forced Szczesny into a good low save with a drive from inside the box, but Arsenal struck next with Olivier Giroud making it 3-0. Picking the ball up with a crowd of City defenders around him, he hit a beautiful, looping, left-footed shot over the keeper and into the net.
Jovetic responded with a leaping bicycle kick over the bar, while Arsene Wenger brought on Mathieu Flamini for Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky for goalscorer Santi Cazorla. Again Jovetic was the only City player to try and score, but found Calum Chambers in the way as the young man continued an impressive competitive debut.
The game slowed down considerably in the final twenty minutes as both teams tired and the result not really in question. Wenger made his final change, bringing on Joel Campbell for Aaron Ramsey.
There was a slight worry as Kieran Gibbs looked to pick up a knock making a clearance but after treatment stayed on for the final few minutes.
City almost got a late consolation when Boyata headed just wide from a corner, but in the end Gunners saw it out and well deserved their victory.
—
Well done, Giroud.
Nailed on MOTM.
Erm…
Its just like when Messi got best player at the world and everything was thinking wtf? Maybe its the same guy…
If we’d have lost I’d have been like “oh who needs it cos its just a pre-season kickabout” BUT we fckn didn’t and how much am I enjoying this? Bloody Neville said well Man City are missing lots of players….tosser just wait till we get Özil and Mert back….COYG
Ramsey or chambers MOTM
Arsenal haven’t won a trophy in 2 minutes. SACK WENGA
Jokes aside though, we’ve gone from 0 trophies in around 9 years, to 2 trophies in 2 official games! New Era!
The Arsenal are back! <3
Giroud was rubbish, just not world class. Awful defensively, no creativity, shocking.
Collectively very poor Gary.
Gary? Gary??!?
sob…..
Lol can’t even win your own cup.
Meh, it’s only the Community Shield.
It’s sarcasm, people. Chill the fuck out.
Let’s not get carried away, we only spanked the champions…actually yes, let’s get fucking carried away!
COYG!!
Gibbs was immense. Gotta love the Arsenal.
Na… nanananananana Giroud!
At last, football season is back. Nice win, now lets get another CB.
Also, Pat Rice is looking as good as ever. Great to see.
He was full of smiles, best image on the night to be honest.
F***k off with IMHO.
Why is there 3 asterisks in there?
What a great day ! So many positives, Calum Chambers’ maturuty being one of them.
By the way, how fucking retarded does Fernando look ? 😀
Stewart Robson calling him slow, he was fucking quality #HatersGonaHate #BitterOldCunt
Stewart Shutyourgobson **
I’m from the states so I don’t have much of an idea about his commentating, but why do you all hate Stewart Robson so much? He played 5 years for us and made 150 league appearances.
I get your sentiment, but perhaps retard isn’t a great word to use there. Without making reference to mental health issues though, he is a git. Completely ineffective except for kicking Jack about. Glad we got that performance in, City don’t have much on us outside the Etihad (and I rather fancy the Etihad situation too might change this year). Exciting.
“retarded?” how old are you?
I think people are getting carried away with Chambers. He got turned by Kolarov (its ok if u r at RB, but not at CB), got outrun by Dzeko, who is nowhere near being quick, those were 2 big mistakes in just one game. As Arsene himself said, hes a very good player for a 19 yrs old…key thing is “for a 19 yrs old”, which a lot of people are missing. Needs to learn a lot to play regularly in Prem.
Ok
Great way to kick off the season, and how good did our new boys look? Up the Arse!!
Great, but tbh I thought that Debuchy could use some more defensive sharpening. That aside, all were awesome!
We can’t stop winning trophies. Two in three months after nine years without one.
Just started and counting one down three more to go……..
FOUR to go actually 🙂
Blessed be the almighty Welsh Jesus, for he heard our prayers and praises, and visited upon us a goal and trophy against the “english” champions that featured not a single englishman.
james milner?
Milner is secretly Mexican
?wha?
His name is actually pronounced “Ham-es Milner (roll the R)”
*wiping laughter tears*
You couldn’t have let that slide?
Good win. Felt we played well, especially in the first half.
Micah Richards would be good defensive cover.
COYGs
He looked fat.
Have you got a TARDIS, Hound? Unbelievably quick! Get in there Arsenal, the season starts here!
Great performance, brilliant result!
Happy days!
Sack wenger he hadn’t won a cup in 5 min 🙂 COYG
In Arsene Wenger we trust!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!
Chambers looks impressive!
Good way to embarrass your embarrasser. In your face Shitty!!!
Just throwing it out there, thought Gibbs looked class. So impressed with him.
2 trophies on 3 months. Spelialist in failure ? Whats that ? The othr name of Mou
Calum Chambers, take a bow!!
HFB’s goal. Wow.
I hate samir nasri
I love The Arsenal.
Surprisingly, I dont feel that vulnerable anymore with our defending. Props to Debuchy & Chambers for the steely deffending.
Most importantly, the first half exhibited the speed at which we can attack with Alexis driving it time and time again.
Second half is about dogged defending and reducing MC to frustating possession.
And oh Giroud. Please do it week in week out. We Love You!
COYG!
It almost scares me how fast our counter-attacks will be with Walcott AND Alexis.. This will be an enjoyable season to watch!
F**king brilliant controlled display. Haha up yours na$ri!!!!
Fantastic result and performance by all. A great start to the season. A confidence boost, payback and revenge to the exgooners and for the 6-3. Oh another trophy so soon! Bring on crystal pulis
Nasri is such a cunt.
well done boyz
dalies and mentaljen,
we won ja tr0py
@silghtly drnku
Gonna watch highlights as I dont have owen tv…….did he choke by chance? Great result well played. Hopefully the start of a great season……….the debuchy tackle i read about sounds tasty and I cant wait to watch
2 trophies in 3 months. Well even 2 in 2 games! And the future looks even brighter
No trophies in 8 years
And now 2 Trophies in 2 Games?
Black Magic I tell you!!!
I could have sworn I heard the Highbury Screaming Lady as Arsenal went up to collect their medals. Anyone else remember her?
All too well, used to drive me to drink, ..no wait, I was already there, but she would have done otherwise.
Add Ozil and Theo to that mix…
And don’t forget Per.
The last time since Arsenal lifted a trophy: today.
I’m proud of you boys! #COYG
Bring. it. ON
If Wenger sees Chambers as a DM, can he be the one to complete our midfield? Time will tell I guess
Wilshere reading the inscriptions on the Shield lol
It feels good
Oooooo santi carzola
30 minutes since our last trophy.
Wenger out
need photo of gunners poznan celebration today
please someone send me
There ya go fella.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2721260/Arsenal-fans-mock-Manchester-City-supporters-doing-Poznan-celebration-Community-Shield-win.html
PS: Na$ri is a massive septic cunt.
thanks he sure is 😀
So happy for Pat Rice, so good that he got too hand out the trophies
How good did Gibbs look? Should have got MOTM for me…
There were a few contenders, Giroud got it cos his goal was a belter. Chambers, Gibbs, Alexis, Ramsey all could have had it.
Great win today. Man city were absolutely not expecting that. And wow the pace we’ve got when we break with Alexis is ridiculous can’t wait for Theo to be back. Cazorla again proves he’s very valuable to this team and a much big game player than most give him credit for… 2goals 2games in 2months – 2trophies so is the same with Ramsey. These two are proving to be very imported players for cup finals. And chambers that kid is brilliant. Good win indeed.
Now. Let’s go get a CB and then bring on the season!
HAHhaha, loved the abuse nasri faced today, great way to start the new season! #COYG
I was going to remark on that but you beat me to it! I just loved hearing the boos ring out every time he touched the ball. No, Samir, we won’t forget, and we’ll never forgive you.
Anyone notice the vast swaths of empty seats in the Schitty sections at Wembley, particularly the upper deck? I guess the only people in Machester that could afford a ticket already play for Schitty.
This is just the begining… All the new boys have tasted victory, and more to come… And Tomas Vermalaen misses out. Coyg!
Also, City team was similar strength to ours.
They were missing Aguero and Kompany.
We were missing Ozil and Mertesacker.
Definitely cannot be used as an excuse
Yes, but let us not permit logic to prevent us from having a dig at the latest Arsenal trophy. Here’s the title of the latest Guardian article (written by Barnay Roonay no less): “Arsenal cruise to community shield win over weakened Manchester City”. If they were so given to dilute the title of an article with stupid detail such as this, then why omit the “Weakened” descriptor from the front of the sentence then? I cannot believe these weirdos. I haven’t read any sports articles from any other mainstream outlets apart from Guardian in the last five years; hence could… Read more »
Remind me, how many World Cup winners were Citeh missing today?
Thought Chambers was outstanding aswell as Sanchez.Giroud’s goal deserves a mention, more to come from him. Ozil – Sanchez – Cazorla = quality
I’d use plus signs rather than minuses, myself.
Owen is a cunt
John Terry is a cunt
Watching the Emirates Cup last weekend I had to turn the sound off because of Owen, it was like listening to nails down a blackboard.
I will have second thoughts before watching any game in which he is ‘commentating’.
I don’t dislike Sagna, but we’ve all seen the picture doing the rounds I hope.
Fucking hilarious
which one is this?
Good result and pretty satisfying performance from the boys, particularly chambers. He has something about him this boy, great to see.
Glad kosielny wasn’t injured either that was a worry
You’re up Forsythe, keep Gibbs fit!!
HFB goal as handsome as him.i can imagine sagna celebrating in discreet. Defence look solid. Good game with another silverware. Dont they know that wembley is painted red by santi and rambo. coyg!
I reckon Sagna was supporting us
he can afford to.