If anyone considered this a glorified kickabout they should have watched Arsenal’s players wheel ecstatically towards their support after Fabio Vieira, finding Stefan Ortega’s top right corner, settled the penalty shootout and struck the first blow of 2023-24. They would certainly have learned from the beam on Mikel Arteta’s face as he climbed up to the Royal Box for the Community Shield presentation. There was no chance of anyone wiping away his grin and, if his players needed a psychological reset after the disappointment of last season’s tailspin, they received everything they could have asked for here.
This was a brisk, watchable palate cleanser and, as proceedings entered the 11th minute of stoppage time, it appeared City would take the spoils while Arsenal could claim succour from a useful display. Then Leandro Trossard, a substitute, received a short corner and jinked inside before aiming an innocuous-looking shot that struck Manuel Akanji and dramatically changed course. It dribbled past an already committed Ortega, prompting wild celebrations from Arteta and giving Arsenal their chance to complete the turnaround.
Continue reading...