On August 6, Arsenal won their seventeenth Community Shield in dramatic fashion. Had it not been for a last-gasp equalizer from talisman Leandro Trossard, the Premier League’s first piece of silverware would have fallen into the hands of rivals Manchester City.
Following Trossard’s stoppage-time goal, Arsenal went on to win 4-1 in a laughably lopsided penalty shootout. The winning penalty was scored by Portuguese midfielder Fabio Viera, who followed up an incredible save from his goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
For fans of both teams, the result did come as a bit of a surprise, especially regarding Arsenal’s overall performance across the match. Arsenal had not beaten Manchester City in any competitive match since 2020. In the previous season alone, the score line between the two sides was 8-2 on aggregate in Manchester City’s favor.
Not even a year ago, this match would have likely ended in an embarrassing fashion reminiscent of Arsenal’s downward spiral since 2007. Since the club moved its home from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium, Manchester City has eclipsed Arsenal as one of England’s most dominant and successful sides. Adding to this, Arsenal’s surprise victory comes only months after Manchester City’s treble season, which concluded with their triumph over an elusive Champions League.
In the words of Arsenal’s boss, Mikel Arteta, it felt great to beat the reigning Champions of Europe. Mikel went on further to describe Manchester City as the best team in the world during the post-match press conference and also said that his players should be thrilled to beat them at the iconic Wembley Stadium. For a man as ambitious as the Arsenal boss, nothing is better than winning a trophy.
Since taking over the club in 2019, Mikel and his former boss Pep Guardiola have developed a bit of a friendly rivalry, a rivalry which has heated up since Arsenal’s dramatic title challenge during the previous season. Fans of both sides expect this rivalry to intensify further as the former colleagues look to guide their clubs through a title-winning season.
Whilst the final score fails to flatter Arsenal on the surface, the resiliency shown by Mikel Arteta’s men reflects the club’s upwards trajectory toward the highest heights of European Football.
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2 comments
1 month, 1 week ago by
Rogjul782
Well written article about a great team!
1 month, 1 week ago by
cynthiahernandezm
So cool! Arsenal is such a great team!
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