Track Tickets
Arsenal lifted the season's first trophy in emphatic style, beating Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield. The Premier League champions were ahead inside the first minute and never looked back, handing new City manager Enzo Maresca a chastening start to his tenure in front of a full house at the Principality Stadium.
Community Shield 2026 result
| Competition | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Community Shield | Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
How the match unfolded
Arsenal could hardly have started faster. Inside the opening half-minute, a clever pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly released Riccardo Calafiori, and the Italian full-back finished calmly to make it 1-0 before City had touched the ball in anger.
The champions doubled their lead on 28 minutes. Captain Martin Ødegaard and debutant Christos Tzolis combined to work the opening, and Kai Havertz rose to head home the second. City had no answer, and the interval arrived with Arsenal in complete control.
Whatever Maresca said at the break was undone within three minutes of the restart. Tzolis picked out Ødegaard inside the box, and the Norwegian dummied his marker before rounding Gianluigi Donnarumma to roll in the third. From there Arsenal were content to keep the ball, moving it from player to player as the contest drifted to its conclusion.
Tzolis announces himself
The standout performer was Christos Tzolis, who marked his competitive Arsenal debut with two assists. Signed from Club Brugge, the 24-year-old winger from Thessaloniki has come in to replace Leandro Trossard, who left for Beşiktaş earlier in the summer.
Tzolis arrives on the back of two outstanding seasons in Belgium, and on this evidence he has settled quickly — his creativity was central to two of Arsenal's three goals and set the tone for a polished afternoon.
Why Cardiff?
The Community Shield was played in Cardiff rather than at Wembley, which was unavailable this week. The Principality Stadium has history as English football's stand-in showpiece venue, having hosted the game's major finals during the construction of the current Wembley in the early 2000s.
What it means for the season ahead
For Arsenal, it is the perfect start to the defence of their title — a trophy, a clean sheet and a first competitive look at their summer business. For City, it is an early marker of the scale of the task facing Maresca as he succeeds a long and successful era at the club. One result in August settles nothing, but the gap on show in Cardiff gave City plenty to work on before the league begins.
Both sides are straight into Premier League action. Arsenal open at home to Coventry City, while City host Bournemouth. For the full picture, see our guides to Arsenal's August 2026 fixtures and Manchester City's August 2026 fixtures.
Arsenal and Manchester City tickets
Tickets for every Arsenal and Manchester City fixture this season are listed on our Arsenal tickets and Manchester City tickets pages. Availability moves fastest in the fortnight before each home fixture.
Every order is covered by our 150% money-back guarantee. If this is your first booking with us, our how it works page walks through the process from checkout to ticket delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Community Shield?
Arsenal, beating Manchester City 3-0 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Who scored in the Community Shield?
Riccardo Calafiori inside the first minute, Kai Havertz on 28 minutes, and Martin Ødegaard shortly after half-time.
Why was the Community Shield played in Cardiff and not at Wembley?
Wembley was unavailable this week, so the match was moved to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, a venue with history as English football's stand-in for major finals.
When do Arsenal and Manchester City start their league season?
Arsenal open at home to Coventry City on Friday 21 August, and Manchester City host Bournemouth on Sunday 23 August.
