I honestly did not expect Arsenal to make the Community Shield look this comfortable. It is only the Community Shield, yes, but beating Manchester City 3-0 is still something every Arsenal fan will enjoy.
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The first goal came after just 23 seconds, and that was probably the perfect way to start the game. Myles Lewis-Skelly's pass was brilliant, and Riccardo Calafiori kept his cool to finish it. At that moment, I knew Arsenal had come ready for this game.
But the player who really caught my attention was Christos Tzolis. What a way to announce yourself! Two assists on your debut against Manchester City is not something you see every day. His delivery for Kai Havertz's goal was excellent, and then he created the opportunity for Martin Ødegaard to score Arsenal's third.
Speaking of Ødegaard, this was probably one of the things I enjoyed most. The Arsenal captain looked confident, sharp and much more like the player we know. His goal was beautiful, especially the way he sent Donnarumma the wrong way before finishing.
I also have to give credit to Arsenal's defence. Coming into this game, there were questions because of the number of goals they conceded during pre-season. But today, the backline looked much more organised. David Raya made some important saves, while Lewis-Skelly and Ben White showed great determination to keep City from getting back into the game.
And honestly, Manchester City looked uncomfortable for large parts of the match. I know they are under a new manager and still have plenty of work to do, so I won't read too much into one Community Shield defeat. But for Arsenal, this was exactly the kind of performance that can build confidence.
The biggest thing for me is the mentality. Arsenal did not just win but they looked hungry.
Tzolis impressed. Ødegaard looked back to his best. The defence stood strong. And Arteta's team looked ready.
It's only one game, but if Arsenal can carry this energy into the Premier League, I think they could be in for a very interesting season.
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