- Arsenal’s Dramatic Victory in Season Opener
- Arteta’s Turning Point Against Last Season’s Treble Winners
- Tactical Shifts, Intense Play, and Late Drama in Community Shield
If anyone thought this was a glorified kickabout, they should have seen Arsenal’s players wheel ecstatically towards their fans after Fábio Vieira’s penalty kick to the upper right corner of Stefan Ortega’s goal settled the penalty shootout and delivered the first blow of the 2023-24 season. They would have also learned from Mikel Arteta’s fist-pumping reaction after Leandro Trossard’s shot, which was severely deflected by Manuel Akanji, trickled in 11 minutes into extra time to give them a seemingly improbable chance to win.
Manchester City appeared to have done enough to win a brisk, watchable match thanks to Cole Palmer’s goal in the 77th minute, but Arsenal deserved a share of the spoils and Arteta will consider this a turning point after nine consecutive losses to last season’s treble winners.
This would be shadow boxing, but Arteta stated in the buildup that he would look. In their two league meetings with City last season, Arsenal lost by a combined score of seven goals to two, which contributed significantly to the mental and physical decline of their title bid. He acknowledged on Friday that it was time to defeat the serial champions.
Stuart Attwell should not have been too stunned to see him receive a yellow card within 17 minutes.
Arteta was incensed that Rodri was not cautioned for pulling back Kai Havertz, no doubt recalling that Thomas Partey had been punished for a similar infraction, and stormed out of his technical area while brandishing a fictitious yellow card. At the very least, Arteta’s familiar touchline outburst confirmed the return of domestic football.
So did City’s early possession monopoly, although it created few openings. Ten short weeks ago, Ilkay Gündogan was here winning them the FA Cup; now, his replacement at No. 8, Mateo Kovacic, has been tasked with string-pulling, and the Croatian has distributed the ball with ease. Ben White intervened intelligently after Akanji set up a cross for Erling Haaland, while a Rodri shot deflected wide. Arsenal, while pressuring City’s back line with ferocity in possession, appeared sufficiently organized to avoid a rout this time.
Within a half-hour, Attwell was compelled to record four names, including Arteta’s, in his notebook. A genuine edge had formed, and the pattern had also changed. In the 25th minute, White ran past a sluggish Akanji and found himself in space in the penalty area. He passed to Havertz, who controlled it well behind him, but Orteta blocked his low shot on the bend. John Stones blocked a Gabriel Martinelli follow-up, and Arsenal, loudly supported, came to life.
Havertz was recruited as an attacking midfielder, but he started in place of the injured Gabriel Jesus over Eddie Nketiah. His advantages and disadvantages in this capacity are well-documented. And his intelligence and grace are not always matched by the ruthlessness of a center forward.
Five minutes before the break, he was presented with an even better opportunity, with Bukayo Saka exposing Akanji before delivering a pass to the near post for a well-positioned Havertz, who Ortega blocked.
This was more than City could manage, but Rodri scored from two yards within Arsenal’s half immediately. Ramsdale should not have been surprised by a Brentford agreement, which will have David Raya on his tail.
Ortega had maintained parity, but Ramsdale was the first custodian to be challenged following halftime. He diverted a Stones header into the air, and his defence cleared it, giving City a little advantage. Declan Rice, aggressive and dominating in his first major test for Arsenal, intercepted a pass and wasted it. Even though a spooned effort in the 63rd minute garnered jeers from City’s fans. There were enough encouraging moments from the £105 million signing in this game.
Last year’s Community Shield proved that Haaland’s performance in this match does not predict his season. Guardiola replaced him with Palmer before the end of the third quarter, with Kevin De Bruyne replacing Kovacic.
Saka air-kicked a perfect White cross and Palmer’s effort deflected narrowly over the crossbar in the second period.
Then, another substitute, Phil Foden, led a break that provided the platform for Palmer’s brilliant moment. De Bruyne ultimately headed the ball into the path of the 21-year-old, and from the right side of the penalty area, Palmer curled a beautiful strike up and around Ramsdale. European clubs want to loan him, but Guardiola should keep him for the season.
Arsenal had not hinted at a comeback before Trossard’s goal, despite Ramsdale’s brilliant saves on Foden and Rodri in rapid succession, which prevented the game from running away from them. A collision between Kyle Walker and Partey, which required medical attention from both players, had added eight minutes of stoppage time when the substitute received a short corner, feinted inside, and shot. He was rewarded, and Arsenal were victorious after De Bruyne’s penalty kick hit the crossbar and Ramsdale saved from Rodri.
