Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, using their compact 4-2-3-1 shape and direct attacking transitions to punish City despite spending less time on the ball. Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori supplied the goals, giving Arsenal a decisive margin from nine attempts. City recorded 59% possession and produced 1.44 xG, marginally above Arsenal’s 1.27, but the contrast between the goalkeepers proved significant. Arsenal’s goalkeeper saved all five shots on target faced, recording a 100% save rate, while City’s goalkeeper stopped only 40% of Arsenal’s five efforts on target. With both teams deployed in the same nominal formation, the difference lay in Arsenal’s defensive organisation and efficiency when advancing into threatening areas, rather than territorial control. City managed 12 shots overall but could not translate their greater share of possession or marginal xG advantage into a goal, while Arsenal converted three of their five accurate attempts through scorers from different areas of the side. Arsenal begin the season with silverware and a notable head-to-head win.