Three things we learned from Arsenal win as Mikel Arteta puts title rivals on red alert

Gunners picked up exactly where they left off

For Arsenal, this was about continuity after their first league title in 22 years. For Manchester City, it was about starting afresh with the continuity candidate, Enzo Maresca, in the dugout.

“You’ve got to come see the Arsenal,” was one chant from the Gunners faithful in the second half, and it felt a fair enough message. If this was anything to go by, they will certainly put on a show when they’re in the mood this season.

Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and captain Martin Odegaard — the best player on the pitch by far — all scored at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in a resounding win that will only serve to ramp up the optimism at Arsenal that they can successfully defend their Premier League title this season.

This was a test of Arsenal’s hunger after they finally achieved their first league title in 22 years last season. The message, judging by the display, matched what Declan Rice was caught mouthing during the defeat to City in April: “We’re not done”.

Odegaard led the procession by example, and said afterwards: “We wanted to start with the first trophy, and we did. We played some brilliant football. It’s a great way to start the season.”

Not since 2018 have the winners of the Community Shield gone on to win the Premier League, so there may be a temptation to read too much into this victory, however comprehensive the manner and significant the identity of the opposition.

That said, Arsenal will feel rejuvenated and bursting with confidence going into Friday’s Premier League opener.

Calafiori’s opener came from great work in midfield by Myles Lewis-Skelly and the clock read 24 seconds when it went in. A nightmare start to Maresca’s competitive debut with City but a goal that unleashed an almighty roar from Arsenal fans, whose collective decibels far outdid their opponents’ throughout the game and who were very well supported in their first competitive game since heartbreak in the Champions League final in Budapest.

After Kai Havertz’s close-range header, the playful chants began. “Are you Tottenham in disguise?”

Arsenal scored after half a minute in the first half and then after two and a half minutes in the second, Odegaard displaying such nonchalance with a fake shot that sent Gianluigi Donnarumma to the turf and allowed him the space and time to pass deftly into the unguarded net.

This is, of course, a long time from judgement day. That’ll come next May. But Arsenal’s confidence that they can go back-to-back will only have grown after this.

Debut performances assessed

A chance for a trophy, yes, but this was also a chance to see Arsenal’s two signings make their competitive debuts.

Bruno Guimaraes was disliked and booed but hugely respected for years as he and Newcastle tormented Arteta’s Arsenal. Signing him is a real coup.

Just over four minutes in, Nico O’Reilly fed a ball up the line for Jeremy Doku, but Bruno sized the Belgian up and gave him a robust shove off the pitch. A protesting hand by Doku from the floor bought him nothing from referee Sam Barrott.

The Arsenal supporters cheered Bruno’s contribution, eager for more of that sort of needle from a well-balanced midfielder who, on his day, can do it all.

The left winger Christos Tzolis found difficulty in beating his man initially but grew into the contest wonderfully, and left the pitch with two assists to his name after a performance with which he will surely be delighted.

The 24-year-old Greece international signed from Club Brugge benefited in the second half from Arsenal becoming more of a transitional threat.

Arsenal have interest in signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah and also long-standing interest in Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, and yet this was a display so defensively assured it may have gone some distance to convincing Arteta and the recruitment department that it would be no terrible thing if the personnel stays just as it is.

Without the injured William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, Arsenal did not seem to lack anything in their defensive third of the pitch.

When Jeremy Doku scampered past Ben White with a drop of the shoulder. Gabriel came charging in and plunging into a tackle, receiving passionate congratulations from his team-mates and sending a message.

Cristhian Mosquera recovered ground and tackled Doku as half-time approached, and David Raya was solid in saving down low from both Phil Foden and Erling Haaland. Arsenal’s defence looks well set. An indication, also, that their title defence does, too.