Community Shield: Wenger issues title warning as Arsenal defeat below par City
ARSENAL 3 MANCHESTER CITY 0
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger believes the dominance shown by his side in yesterday’s FA Community Shield hammering of Manchester City proves the Gunners can turn the tables on the Premier League’s elite this season.
Substitute Olivier Giroud scored the pick of the goals in the second period after Spanish international Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey fired Arsenal into a commanding half-time lead against the reigning Premier League champions.
Arsenal only recorded one victory against a fellow top-four team last term and conceded a combined 17 goals in heavy defeats at Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, a record Wenger is keen to rectify.
“We were criticised last season for not competing against the top teams and that’s why it was important for us to win,” said Wenger.
“We were very consistent against teams after the top six bit not consistent against the top six teams. The year before it was the reverse so let’s hope this year it is right on both sides.
“I think it was important for our confidence to win and it was a comfort to me to see we can produce that kind of quality for long patches in the game.”
Cazorla, the architect of Arsenal’s dramatic FA Cup final comeback against Hull in May, opened the scoring on 18 minutes when his low left-footed shot from the edge of the area deceived City keeper Willy Caballero.
Wenger’s side doubled their lead with three minutes of the half remaining, Alexis Sanchez and Yaya Sanogo both involved in a lightning break before Ramsey swivelled and found the far corner past Caballero.
Seven minutes after the re-start, Stevan Jovetic saw his downward header from a right-wing Jesus Navas centre clip Wojciech Szczesny’s post before the former Fiorentina forward blazed the rebound high and wide.
Jovetic threatened again moments later after being found following a penetrating Aleksandar Kolarov run down the left, only for Szczesny to beat away his fierce drive.
Arsenal sealed victory on the hour mark as half-time replacement Giroud collected a pass from Ramsey before unleashing a dipping 25-yard finish beyond a stranded Caballero.