Arsenal's New Signings Shine in Community Shield Victory

Martin Ødegaard hailed the “natural” impact of Arsenal’s new arrivals Bruno Guimarães and Christos Tzolis after the Premier League champions ripped through Manchester City to lift the Community Shield – and warned that this side is built to chase far more than one trophy.

Arsenal dismantled last season’s FA Cup winners in Cardiff, surging into a 3-0 lead inside 48 minutes and playing with the swagger of a team that expects to stay on top. City never really got close.

Tzolis, a £34m summer signing from Club Brugge, wasted no time announcing himself. The winger slipped a sharp pass into Kai Havertz for Arsenal’s second, then repeated the trick after the interval, teeing up Ødegaard to sweep in the third just after half-time. Two assists, one statement.

Guimarães, meanwhile, brought a different kind of authority. Making his first start since his £75m move from Newcastle, the Brazil midfielder controlled the first half before giving way to Declan Rice at the break. Ødegaard, who has shared plenty of battles with him in the past, sounded almost surprised at how quickly the former rival has blended 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.

“Christos, as well, it is good to have new players perform like that already.”

For Ødegaard, this felt like more than just a curtain-raiser. Last season he managed only 16 Premier League starts and one goal, his campaign shredded by injuries. The frustration lingered. The World Cup changed the mood.

The 27-year-old rediscovered his rhythm as Norway reached the quarter-finals in the summer, and he has carried that edge back to London.

“Last season, to miss so many games because of injury was really frustrating,” he said. “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.”

The timing of this performance matters. Arsenal open their title defence on Friday night away to promoted Coventry, a fixture that now comes with a clear expectation: champions should look like champions from the first whistle.

Ødegaard made it clear the Community Shield was not treated as a friendly run-out against Enzo Maresca’s side.

“We wanted to show our level,” he said. “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.”

New signings bedding in instantly. The captain scoring. City brushed aside. Arsenal’s message before the real business starts could hardly be louder.