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Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0: remarkable
Teams 25 August 2026

Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0: remarkable

Biggest Community Shield win since 2014; Calafiori scores after 23 seconds; Tzolis with two assists on his basic debut; Maresca suffers a heavy opening defeat with Manchester City.

Arsenal puts aside Manchester City 3-0: striking

According to Sports.

Background

Riccardo Calafiori's goal after 23 seconds is historic not only for the Community Shield, but also for Arsenal, as it is the fastest of the 668 goals scored under Mikel Arteta. Christos Tzolis, making his starting debut, made a notable contribution with two assists, highlighting his potential within the team. These performances could have a significant impact on Arsenal's season outlook.

Why this matters

Arsenal's 3-0 win over Manchester City marks a strong start to the season and confirms their status as a serious competitor in the Community Shield. This is their biggest Community Shield win since 2014, indicating Arsenal are well prepared for the upcoming competition. The statistics highlight not only the strength of Arsenal, but also the challenges facing Manchester City and their new coach Enzo Maresca.

Key points

  • Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0: striking.
  • Biggest Community Shield win since 2014; Calafiori scores after 23 seconds; Tzolis with two assists on his basic debut; Maresca suffers a heavy opening defeat with Manchester City.
  • Arsenal 3-0 Man City: Did you know?.

Arsenal won the Community Shield convincingly by beating Manchester City 3-0. The Londoners immediately set the tone for the new football season and simultaneously recorded a series of eye-catching statistics. The three-goal difference is the biggest win in the battle for the English Super Cup since 2014, when Arsenal also defeated the same opponent 3-0.

For Enzo Maresca, the new manager of Manchester City, it was a debut to quickly forget. The 0-3 is considered the joint heaviest defeat ever for a City manager in his first official match. Only Harry Newbould ever lost by three or more goals in his baptism of fire: in 1906 he lost 1-4 to, yes, Arsenal. In addition, the defeat also equals Maresca's heaviest loss as a coach in English football: he previously lost 0-3 in Chelsea - Brighton in February 2025.

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The evening got off to a flying start thanks to Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian opened the scoring after just 23 seconds, scoring the first goal in the opening minute of the Community Shield since 1968, when Bobby Owen did the trick for Manchester City against West Bromwich Albion. For Arsenal, Calafiori's goal is also historic: it is the fastest of all 668 goals that the club has scored in all competitions under Mikel Arteta.

Kai Havertz also made his mark. The German remains a terror for Manchester City: he has now been directly involved in a total of seven goals against the English champions (four goals, three assists), more than against any otherclub in his career. While Havertz once again confirmed his productivity against City, a teammate wrote a nice scoop: in his first starting position for Arsenal, Christos Tzolis provided two assists. This makes him the first player since David Beckham in 1996 (for Manchester United against Newcastle United) with at least two referee moments in a Community Shield match.

In summary: Arsenal combined fresh combination play with effectiveness and struck very quickly, while City and debutant Maresca were behind the times. The figures underline the Gunners' dominance at the start of the season and give Arteta's side a boost of confidence heading into the start of the competition. City will mainly look for support in the ability to recover, because historically such a defeat is rare - and therefore a signal that there is still work to be done.

What's happening now

With this victory, Arsenal have sent a strong message for the rest of the season. The focus will now be on maintaining this momentum in the coming league matches. It is crucial for Manchester City to recover quickly from this defeat as they prepare for their next match and try to find the right strategies under Maresca.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of the match between Arsenal and Manchester City?

Arsenal won the match 3-0 against Manchester City.

How does this victory affect the league standings?

The victory has no direct impact on the league standings, as it concerns a Community Shield match.

Who scored the goals for Arsenal?

Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring, followed by contributions from other players, including Kai Havertz.

When is the next match for Arsenal?

The next match for Arsenal is not yet specified in the article.

What is special about Arsenal's victory?

The 3-0 victory is the biggest win in the battle for the English Super Cup since 2014.

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