Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted that he was surprised by the emphatic nature of his side’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the 2026 Community Shield final.
Arteta said the convincing performance exceeded his expectations, particularly after Arsenal endured an inconsistent pre-season campaign during which the coaching staff assessed several players.
The Spanish manager praised his squad for their impressive display, highlighting the team’s intensity, determination and response throughout the encounter.
He said he thoroughly enjoyed watching his players perform at such a high level and was pleased with the hunger they showed on the pitch.
The match, played at the Principality Stadium, saw Arsenal establish control early and maintain their dominance against City.
The Gunners took the lead through Riccardo Calafiori, who scored with a record-fast opening goal, before Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard added further goals to complete the 3-0 victory.
The triumph gives Arsenal a major boost ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
What Arteta said
“A bit surprised. We had the pre-season and we had eight to nine players to get tested. To play in the manner we did is extremely impressive.
“A really good performance. To show the desire we showed and the reaction I was really impressed. I told them I really enjoyed watching them play.”