Arsenal stunned Manchester City 4-1 on penalties in an epic thriller at Wembley Stadium, London, on Sunday.
The game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes with Gunners’ Leandro Trossard scoring an equalizer in the 90+11th minute and taking the game to the penalties.
Man City missed two of their penalties with big names like Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri — City’s Champions League final scorer against Inter Milan last season — failing to convert from the spot.
The game started evenly, both teams did not give much room to the other one with their compact defensive structure and effective press.
The first half ended 0-0 as both teams struggled to score but City got a breakthrough during the second half.
Man City’s substitute, 21-year-old Cole Palmer scored an absolute stunner, curling the ball to the left top-corner in the 77th minute with his left foot, leaving no chance for Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale to save the shot.
With his stunner, Palmer also became the youngest player (21 years, 92 days) to score in the Community Shield since Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas against Chelsea in 2005 (18 years, 95 days).
But Parmer’s strike came of no use as Trossard’s heavily deflected shot found its way to the net and the game was drawn 1-1.
The match went to penalties and Ramsdale became Arsenal’s hero as the goalkeeper saved back-to-back penalties and helped his side clinch their record 17th Community Shield title.
Arsenal once again proved that they are no longer the team they were during the last decade. With every passing week, they only seem to be growing tactically as well as mentally all while playing dominating football.
The addition of Declan Rice is pivotal for Mikel Arteta as he needed an experienced soldier in his midfield to take charge of the game when things do not go their way.
In the upcoming Premier League (PL) season, we may once again see Arteta’s men going all the way for the title and who knows if — with all the required additions in the squad — they end up winning the title for the first time since 2004.