Arsenal v Manchester City – FA Community Shield result as Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard fire Gunners to dominant win

Arsenal hit the ground running in the season curtain-raiser as they thrashed Manchester City 3-0 to win the FA Community Shield in Cardiff.

The two sides headed into the match with most observers seeing the game as a battle between the two sides expected to battle it out for the Premier League title again this season. But in Sunday afternoon's head-to-head clash at the Principality Stadium, there was only one team in it.

Arsenal stamped their authority on the game in the very first minute, when a great pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly found the arriving Riccardo Calafiori, who fired Arsenal into the lead after just 24 seconds.

That strike gave Arsenal increased confidence, while City struggled to find cohesion in a match where they looked a little under-prepared for such a high-intensity Arsenal performance.

The Gunners doubled their lead on 28 minutes when a deep cross from player of the match Martin Odegaard found new signing Christos Tzolis at the back post. The Greece winger then smartly headed the ball back across goal, where Kai Havertz was on hand to nod home and double Arsenal's lead.

From that point on, Arsenal had a grip on the game and never let go. City tried in vain to find their way back into the game but, when their chances came, they found Arsenal keeper David Raya in the right place at the right time to deny them. There was also one superb block by Ben White to deny Jeremy Doku.

The second half saw both managers make mass changes, meaning the action became a little more stop-start. But by the time those changes came, Arsenal were away and clear at 3-0.

An outstanding piece of play from Odegaard gave Arsenal their third goal as he latched onto a Tzolis pass and superbly sat down City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before finishing with ease just two minutes into the second period.

The game became fragmented after that. While both sides had chances, neither were able to add to the scoreline as Arsenal ran out comfortable winners.

TNT Sports pundit and former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott admitted that the alarm bells are ringing following Arsenal's 3-0 thrashing of his former club in the FA Community Shield.

"I'm not surprised by Arsenal's performance," said Lescott.

"That's the worrying thing, they're at this level so early on. It's going to be a daunting time for everyone.

"Concerned is the right word [for City]. It's the whole performance, really, and the gap. The worrying thing is the gap."

"People are saying Arsenal maybe didn't let the handbrake off last season often enough. Well, they let it off today," said TNT Sports pundit Martin Keown.

"The gap between the two teams, it was quite stunning to see Man City, the body language with the players and manager, they looked a bit lifeless as a group.

"I think Arsenal have made a real statement of intent with that performance. The bigger problem for Arteta now is, who do you pick?"

"It is effectively a pre-season game, but the gap between the two sides in this particular encounter is probably as big as any gap between the sides I've seen in a long, long time."

There will be THREE ADDITIONAL MINUTES at the end of this match.

Frank Lampard's Coventry City will kick off their Premier League season return when they face Arsenal next weekend, and TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher wondered aloud what the former Chelsea and England man might be thinking watching the Gunners in such ruthless form today.

"I wonder what Frank Lampard's Sunday lunch is tasting like watching this? he said.

Ally McCoist immediately replied, "I suggest Frank, throw another Yorkshire on it and get on with it!"

"I'm really surprised at what I'm watching from City," said TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist.

"Yes, Arsenal have been excellent and deserve all the praise they're getting. But City have been concerningly poor."

"What a chance. Brilliant ball in. He just gets too much on it. He just doesn't want to get as much on it."

City haven't had too many chances in this second half, but Rayan Cherki just gave David Raya his biggest test of the game so far.

The Frenchman did well to open himself up and fire at goal, and the Arsenal stopper gets down well to save.

Great work down the left flank from Hincapie as he buccaneers forward, then swings in a perfect cross for Saka, who can't keep his first-time effort down, and the ball flies over the crossbar.

"I'm not sure City's pressing is as aggressive as it should be," said TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist.

He's right, too.