When I wrote previously that Arsenal could build momentum by winning the final two pre-season games against AS Monaco and Manchester City, I’d be lying if I wasn’t a bit suspect of achieving the latter. Recent history has shown that whenever Arsenal meets City, no matter the arena or competition, it tends to be a rather bleak affair for those in the North London camp. Most recently taking shape in the closing stages of last season where City won 12 games straight to end the season (including a 4-1 thrashing of Arsenal) to win the Premier League title that Arsenal had led the majority of the year.

Enter the most recent installment of the saga, the 2023 Community Shield game. An annual exhibition that offers the first “trophy” of the season, it was a chance for Arsenal to show the world that last year wasn’t a flash in the pan, but a statement of intention for the years to come. Over the next couple hours Arsenal went toe to toe with City in an highly competitive game, and was finally able to beat the Mancunians via a penalty shootout after regular time ended with the teams tied at 1-1.

It was a tense match from the get go, as Arsenal opened the game willing to let City dominate possession and instead use counter attacks as the primary mode of offense. Over the first 20 minutes or so, City was unable to take advantage of its’ possession share as Arsenal focused on stacking everyone in a red jersey in front of Guardiola’s men. City had a couple moments, with an outside the box shot from Rodri that just edged outside the post being the closest they came to breaking through in the opening stages.

From 25 minutes through the end of the first half, it was Arsenal that enjoyed the best chances of the game. Kai Havertz, who started up front in place of the injured Gabriel Jesus, has had his fair share of outside questions around his ability to play in the striker position this offseason. Unfortunately for the German international, his offensive performance will do little to relieve the pressure. First, a chance created by Ben White in a now patented move down the right came to the feet of Havertz around the penalty spot area. In fairness, I would’ve liked to see White take the shot on as he had an opening when he cut back in. Instead he found Havertz, although it was just enough behind him that he had to stretch for it and put his back to goal to gain possession, then hit a shot on the turn. Power was lacking due to this effort, but it was still only denied by a solid foot save from keeper Stefan Ortega. Gabriel Martinelli had a chance to produce a shot from the rebound, but it was blocked as three City defenders quickly got in between him and the goal, clogging the path through.

Havertz’ next chance however was not one where he deserves the same sympathy. Created via an incredible pass from Martin Odegaard to Bukayo Saka, who drove to the byline and played a pass back to Havertz on the edge of the six yard box. Havertz took the shot first time, but it appeared that the shot (taken with his weaker right foot) lacked a certain venom and was stopped again by Ortega. Simply put, I think he should score in that situation. Even though the shot needed to be taken with his right foot, from six yards out and in a game against a team the caliber of Manchester City, those chances cannot go wanting.

One of the defensive highlights of the first half was Arsenal’s ability to keep Erling Haaland in check, as the striker was barely able to touch the ball at all. This was made easier by the sheer mass of humanity Arteta kept behind the ball as City were on the attack, but even in the couple moments where a long pass was played to Haaland in an attempt to circumnavigate the defensive wall, he was corralled well by William Saliba or a squad of multiple defenders. In the end, Haaland was subbed off at 63 minutes without taking a single shot.

Opening the second half as they did the first, City’s men soaked up possession and kept the ball in and around the Arsenal defensive third. Defender John Stones was able to make solid contact with a header via a corner kick, but fortunately it was directed straight to Aaron Ramsdale who made the simple save. Arsenal had the next close call at 67 minutes, as Ben White again showed his prowess on the attacking end and played an excellent ball across the box from the right. His pass arrived at the feet of Bukayo Saka, who was unable to direct the ball toward goal, thus negating any real danger for Ortega. Cole Palmer, the substitute who came on for Haaland, wasted no time in getting warmed up and had a chance to break through for City at 69 minutes, only for Jurrien Timber to deny the shot from getting to Ramsdale. However, he would not miss again. Just a few minutes later he took up the exact same spot he missed from previously, shaking defender Kieran Tierney in the process, and bent a sublime strike across the goal into Ramsdale’s far corner.

That wasn’t the last time City threatened scoring either. Arsenal’s win came on the back of Aaron Ramsdale’s late stage heroics via two back to back saves at 81 minutes to keep the score 0-1. First coming from a long punt from Ortega that was poorly defended, the ball fell to the feet of City forward Julian Alvarez. Alvarez drove down to the edge of the box, played a pass to a cutting Phil Foden, who took a touch then put a shot toward the far post. Ramsdale was able to stick out a foot to deflect it outside the post which was, in the situation, a phenomenal save. From the ensuing corner, Kevin De Bruyne whipped in a low ball that was headed to the near post by Rodri, forcing another superb diving save from Ramsdale to deny the second goal. With Arsenal bringing in David Raya to provide competition for Ramsdale, these saves will go a long way in reinforcing his confidence and position as starting keeper.

Fifteen minutes later, as the doors were basically an inch from closing on Arsenal and yet again seeing City leave victorious, Leandro Trossard once again came through for the Gunners. After a period of sustained pressure around the City box toward the end of stoppage time, Trossard received a pass from Saka, cut in and took a shot that took a wicked deflection into the near post of Ortega. A certain level of controversy surrounded the goal, as it happened 10 minutes into the originally allotted eight minutes of stoppage time. However, with the new rule in play this season that encourages referees to add additional time on for any delays during stoppage time, it was scored in the time the rule was intended to allow. There was a clash of heads during stoppage time that delayed play for a few minutes, and thus the referee saw fit to extend play to make up for the lost game time. There is plenty of conversation around this new rule, and I’m sure this won’t be the last controversy that sparks from its’ implementation. Guardiola was, in a word, frustrated by how things shook out and there’s a level of empathy I can have with his sentiments. I’m sure Arsenal will be in that same position at some point this season, and I’ll certainly be feeling the same frustration. In the end, this is how the game will be played going forward and we’ll all need to get used to it.

After the resulting eruption from both the Arsenal players and fans in attendance, the penalty shootout took place. All four Arsenal penalty takers converted from the spot, and after De Bruyne hit the post and Rodri had his penalty saved, the fifth penalty never had to be taken for the Gunners. One takeaway from the shootout was the level of happiness I felt for Arsenal substitute Fabio Vieira, who took and converted the game winning penalty. Much has been said about Vieira’s time in North London, and I think it’s fair to say it hasn’t been what either party had hoped for thus far. However, hopefully Vieira’s two penalty efforts against Monaco and City will provide the bit of confidence he needs to have his breakthrough. Arsenal will no doubt need him over the next few months in a variety of situations and competitions, and having that extra bit of confidence could go a long way.

As we look forward to the start of the Premier League season against Nottingham Forest, I think Arsenal are on about as good of footing as the team could hope for. Pre-season has had its’ ups and downs for Arteta and Arsenal as a whole, but in the end everything began to come together and culminated in about as positively as one could hope for. Notching a win against Manchester City, a team that has effectively been Arsenal’s kryptonite in recent years, will be a huge confidence boost going into the campaign. Some will say it’s just a pre-season exhibition and it doesn’t mean anything, but I don’t believe that to be the case. Does it cement Arsenal as title favorites? No. Does it mean City are doomed to finish 20th in the table this year? Absolutely not. All I’m saying is, the psychological effect of finally beating a team that has plagued you time and time again isn’t worthless. Sometimes all you need to see is a chink in your opposition’s armor to show you that what has happened can be done again. Only time will tell how the season pans out, but for now I think we’ve seen enough to have an optimistic outlook on what could happen.