Alan Pardew has declared Arsenal look 'head and shoulders' above their Premier League rivals as they prepare to defend their title, following a comprehensive Community Shield victory over Manchester City. The Gunners scored three goals without reply at the Principality Stadium, with Riccardo Calafiori opening the scoring after just 23 seconds, before Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard added further strikes either side of half-time.
Community Shield success and standout performances
Arsenal's victory was marked by a debut goal involvement from Christos Tzolis, who set up both Havertz and Odegaard, while marquee signing Bruno Guimaraes also made his first appearance for the north London club. The win extended Arsenal's Community Shield tally to 18 titles, behind only Manchester United's 21, and gave Mikel Arteta his third triumph as manager, having also won twice as a player.
Pardew's verdict on Arsenal's title credentials
Speaking on talkSPORT, Pardew highlighted the importance of continuity, noting that other clubs have new managers, which he believes gives Arsenal a significant advantage. 'It's an outstanding signing,' he said of the £75million deal for Guimaraes. 'What you've got is a player who knows the Premier League, is top, top end of the Premier League in terms of a creative midfield player and he can dig in when needed.'
Pardew acknowledged the difficulty of winning back-to-back titles but insisted Arsenal are currently the standout team. 'It's going to be a tough season but at the moment you have to say wow, they look head and shoulders [above the rest] at the moment,' he added.
Potential for further signings
Pardew also suggested Arsenal could add another 'big star' to their squad, having missed out on top attacking target Vinicius Junior earlier in the transfer window. 'Those players have all got the gold medal in the locker and now they've brought in a top, top midfield player to add to that, and maybe another big star to come as well,' he said. 'I think that's where the key is: who is this next player going to be for Arsenal? Because he could take them to a level where they win the league with a bit to spare.'
Arsenal finished last season with a seven-point advantage over Manchester City, who were led by Pep Guardiola in his final year as head coach. The Gunners begin their Premier League campaign on Friday at home to newly promoted Coventry City, with Odegaard and his teammates aiming to continue their momentum.
