Arsenal’s New Signings Impress in Community Shield Win

Martin Ødegaard believes Arsenal’s new-look spine has already sent a message to the rest of England – and he didn’t have to look far for proof.

On a sharp, ruthless afternoon in Cardiff, the Premier League champions tore into Manchester City, the FA Cup holders, with a 3-0 Community Shield win that felt far more serious than a curtain-raiser. By the 48th minute, it was a statement.

New boys, big impact

Christos Tzolis arrived from Club Brugge for £34m with expectation, not guarantees. He wasted no time turning that into end product.

First, the Greek winger slipped in Kai Havertz for Arsenal’s second, a neat assist that sliced City open. Just after half-time, he repeated the trick, this time picking out Ødegaard to sweep in the third. Two assists, one new stage, no nerves.

“Christos, as well, it is good to have new players perform like that already,” Ødegaard said, the satisfaction obvious.

If Tzolis brought the spark in the final third, Bruno Guimarães supplied the authority behind it. The £75m signing from Newcastle started in midfield and immediately looked like he’d been there for years, snapping into challenges, dictating tempo, and giving Arsenal a steel-and-silk presence at the heart of the pitch.

Guimarães came off at half-time for Declan Rice, his job already done. For Ødegaard, there was no surprise in how smoothly the Brazilian has slotted in.

“Since the first day he came in, it has been such a natural thing,” the Norwegian said. “Although we had some big fights with him in the past, he has just come into the team as a real natural part of the team. And you can see his quality. He can win the ball, he’s a fighter, but he also has so much quality on the ball. He is so calm on the ball. He always takes the right amount of time and he finds the pass. It’s brilliant.”

City, usually the ones suffocating opponents, found themselves chasing shadows as Arsenal surged into that 3-0 lead. The champions did not just beat last season’s FA Cup winners; they dismantled them.

Ødegaard’s own reset

While the focus fell on the new faces, this game also marked a personal reset for Ødegaard.

Last season, injuries cut him down. Sixteen Premier League starts, one goal – numbers that never came close to reflecting his influence when fit, but still a frustration for a player of his standards.

“Last season, to miss so many games because of injury was really frustrating,” he admitted. “What I have just worked on is to use that as motivation for this year and to become stronger. And to use all of those experiences in a positive way. Obviously, I want to help the team score more goals, get more assists, and all that. It was a good way to start the season.”

His summer with Norway helped. A run to the World Cup quarter-finals sharpened his form and his edge. In Cardiff, the timing of his runs, the weight of his touches, and the finish for his goal all suggested a player ready to reclaim centre stage at club level.

Champions looking for more

Arsenal now turn from a statement win to the grind of a title defence. It starts on Friday night against promoted Coventry, and Ødegaard is under no illusion about what is expected.

“We wanted to show our level,” he said of the performance against Enzo Maresca’s City. “Of course, last year we won the league. But this year we want more. There is a lot more to play for. We want to do it again in the league and then there are the other trophies. There is a lot to work for and still a lot of room for improvement.”

That is the ominous part for the rest. A 3-0 dismantling of City, new signings already delivering, the captain scoring and talking about “a lot of room for improvement”.

If this is Arsenal still warming up, what does full speed look like?