Martin Odegaard issued a stark warning to Arsenal's rivals after the Gunners secured a statement Community Shield victory over Manchester City, declaring that he 'wants to win everything' in the season ahead. Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, and Odegaard himself ensured Arsenal claimed the first piece of silverware available this term, with City offering little response at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
Dominant Display in Cardiff
Summer signing Christos Tzolis was the standout performer in the Welsh capital, providing assists for both Havertz and Odegaard either side of half-time. Calafiori had opened the scoring just 23 seconds into the contest, setting the tone for a commanding Arsenal performance. Bruno Guimaraes was also handed his debut following a high-profile £75 million move from Newcastle and looked comfortable in midfield alongside the impressive Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Mikel Arteta's men will look to carry this momentum into their Premier League title defence, which begins at home to newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates on Friday. City, managed by Enzo Maresca, will be under pressure to improve after a lacklustre and disjointed display, as they kick off their top-flight campaign against Bournemouth in a week's time.
Odegaard's Ambition and Praise for New Signings
Speaking after the final whistle, Arsenal captain Odegaard said: 'We played some brilliant football, we showed our level. We showed we're ready, serious and want to do it again. We want to attack it. When you get a taste of how nice it is, you want to do it again. We want to win everything.'
On debutant Guimaraes, Odegaard added: 'I think he has been unbelievable since the first moment. He has come in here and feels like such a natural part of the team although we had some big fights in the past. He has been such a natural part of the team and you see his quality on the pitch, he is so good on the ball but he is also a fighter and he wins the ball. Christos [Tzolis] as well on the left, he had two assists today and a strong performance. I think everyone was good today so it was good to see.'
Arteta's Verdict on Tzolis
Arteta also praised Tzolis, highlighting the winger's 'intelligence' and 'quality' in the final third. 'He's come into the team and really organically he's fitted in,' the Arsenal head coach told reporters. 'He's a really intelligent boy, and he has a massive quality, which is that in the last 30 metres, he is so composed to pick people out in and around the box or to finish. He has shown that two or three times, and he was decisive.'
Asked about potential improvement, Arteta added: 'With more quality around him, the numbers will be higher. It is not a coincidence. He is a really consistent player in everything he does and, yes, I'm really impressed with him.'
Arsenal have now lifted the Community Shield on 18 occasions, just three short of Manchester United's record of 21 victories. Arteta has secured three of those wins as a manager, having previously triumphed in 2020 and 2023, and also won the trophy twice as a player in 2014 and 2015.
