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Arsenal are now 'cursed' after beating Man City to win Community Shield

Express.co.uk · Charlie Malam · 2026-08-16T15:56:08+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Arsenal thrashing Man City to win Community Shield might be bad news for Mikel Arteta Arsenal played Manchester City off the park to win the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Arsenal dominated Manchester City to win the Community Shield for the 18th time, the third under Mikel Arteta. But while a sharp and clinical performance appeared a real statement of intent from the Premier League champions, it might not all be positive. Riccardo Calafiori had Arsenal ahead after just 24 seconds at the Principality Stadium in the first Community Shield match played in Cardiff for 20 years. And Kai Havertz doubled the Magpies' lead in the 28th minute, heading in from close range. Captain Martin Odegaard killed the game as a contest inside three minutes of the restart after a brilliant touch and finish inside the box that fooled both Josko Gvardiol and Gianluigi Donnarumma. That allowed Arsenal to run out comfortable winners to lift the octagonal shield once more. Yet there is reason for some concern for the Gunners despite such a stylish 3-0 win. That's because of the 'Community Shield curse' that they are now tasked with beating. Over the last 15 years, only one team has won the Community Shield and the Premier League in the same season - Man City's 2018/19 centurions. You have to go back to 2010/11 for the previous time before that that a team won both and that was Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. Arsenal have themselves fallen victim to the curse five times since then. In 2014 they beat City 3-0 at Wembley, defeating Chelsea 1-0 at the same venue the following year. In 2017 they got the better of Chelsea on penalties after a 1-1 draw, also beating Liverpool on spot-kicks in 2019. In 2023, a third successive 1-1 draw ended with Arsenal triumphing on penalties, again against City. But they failed to finish higher than second in any of those campaigns. And that is a streak they are now challenged with breaking as they bid to be crowned back-to-back champions for the first time in the Premier League era. They have not retained a league title since 1934-35. In fact, each of their last three title defences have seen them finish second, twice behind Manchester United and once behind Chelsea. EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page City are viewed as their biggest contenders to the title this term but they have a new manager for the first time in a decade, with Enzo Maresca having replaced the legendary Pep Guardiola. And the shakiness of their display in the Welsh capital will only give Arsenal fans more hope. The north Londoners have gone big in the transfer window to bring in winger Tzolis, midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and defender Piero Hincapie, who enjoyed a successful loan at the Emirates last season. But they could still sign another left winger and defender before September 1. After failing to snatch Vinicius Junior away from Real Madrid, PSG's Bradley Barcola is another potential option for the Gunners on the left. But Liverpool are also in discussions to sign the Frenchman who could cost more than £130million. Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus are other possible targets for Arsenal. In defence, Aston Villa's versatile Ezri Konsa is the No.1 option for Arteta with Bayer Leverkusen man Jarell Quansah - formerly of Liverpool - a slightly cheaper alternative. Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Ethan Nwaneri are all expected to move on before the month ends. Promising youngster Nwaneri could be loaned out, though a permanent departure has not been ruled out.