Callum Chambers gave an assured performance in the Gunners' back four as Arsenal enjoyed a comfortable win over Manchester City at Wembley

Published: 11 August, 2014
by PAUL COWLING at Wembley Stadium

FA Community Shield
ARSENAL 3, MANCHESTER CITY 0

ON 38 minutes history was made at the home of English football, as referee Michael Oliver whipped out his can of vanishing spray to mark out a Manchester City free-kick.

There were ironic cheers from all corners of Wembley, and even louder ones from the Arsenal end, as Yaya Toure's tame effort summed up City's own vanishing act.

The Champions were simply dismantled by an impressive Arsenal side, bouyed by the confidence that their own FA Cup win back in May has given them.

The Community Shield was won at a canter, and on this one performance, it suggests that Arsenal can challenge City to their Premier League crown, when the league season kicks off next weekend.

"It was important for our confidence to win, and against the champions," said Gunners boss Arsene Wenger after the match.

"We have to start well at home because it's a derby (against Crystal Palace)."

Arsenal and their fans now have that winning Wembley feeling, and they will want more. But Wenger was more matter-of-fact.

"I would love to win a trophy every week – unfortutunately it's not possible. Let's just win the next game," he said.

"Last season we were very consistent against the teams outside the top six, and not consistent against the top-six teams. Let's hope that this year it will be right on both sides."

The fact that City were without several key regulars shouldn't take the gloss away from an impressive Arsenal display.

The Gunners controlled a surprisingly enjoyable match for one so one-sided, and took the lead after 21 minutes, when the impressive Santi Cazorla sidestepped former Gunner Gael Clichy, before drilling a low shot into the right-hand corner of the City net.

Just as it looked as if City were finally getting into the game, Arsenal broke quickly on the counter and made it 2-0 on 42 minutes. Alexis Sanchez charged forward and fed Yaya Sanogo. The young French striker, who up until then had struggled to get on the ball, finally managed to do so. He used sheer strength to tee up Aaron Ramsey who clipped the ball past City keeper Willy Caballero.

The Argentine was left clutching thin air on the hour mark, when Olivier Giroud – on as a substitute for Sanogo – let fly from 25 yards to make it 3-0 to Arsenal.

City had few moments to get back in the game. On 51 minutes, Stevan Jovetic headed weakly against the post, but soon brought out the best in Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who got down low to a fierce drive.

Szczesny was well protected by his defence, with new signings Mathieu Debuchy and Callum Chambers fitting seamlessly into the back four.

"Debuchy was excellent, and Chambers had an outstanding performance for a 19-year-old," said Wenger after the match.

The young full-back, signed from Southampton, has been a real plus for Wenger as he ponders his defensive make-up for Saturday's league opener at the Emirates.

"He (Chambers) can challenge both centre-backs (Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny) and that's what you want."

Chambers generally looked assured and showed good pace, particularly on 64 minutes when Jovetic was clean through on goal – the Arsenal youngster getting a challenge in before calmly launching an Arsenal counter-attack.

Arsenal were never troubled once Giroud had blasted in the third, and a raft of substitutions from both sides slowed the game down until its inevitable conclusion.

Arsenal fans jeered and cheered as former Gunner Samir Nasri went up to collect his loser's medal, and raised the roof as captain Mikel Arteta raised the hefty shield.

Less than a third of the winners of this traditional pre-season curtain-raiser go on to win the league. Nevertheless, there are grounds for optimism amongst Gunners fans that this could be their season.

How Arsenal cope with Tony Pulis's tricky Crystal Palace side next Saturday, could already go some way to showing if they have the ability and mettle to win their first league title since 2004.

ARSENAL: Szczesny, Debuchy, Chambers, Koscielny (Monreal 54), Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey (Campbell 86), Wilshere (Flamini 68); Sanchez (Oxlade-Chamberlain 45), Cazorla (Rosicky 70), Sanogo (Giroud 45). Subs not used: Martinez
Attendance: 71,523