Arsenal 1–1 Manchester City (4-1 on penalties)
by Layth Yousif at Wembley Stadium 

ARSENAL have removed their ‘mental block’ following their dramatic spot-kick win over Manchester City, insisted keeper Aaron Ramsdale after the Gunners lifted the Community Shield for the 17th time in their history. 

Mikel Arteta's side ended their losing run against City with a gripping penalty shootout triumph in Sunday's showpiece event at Wembley Stadium.     

Arsenal had lost all three meetings with last season’s title rivals but snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when Leandro Trossard cancelled out Cole Palmer’s goal in the 11th minute of added time.

Ramsdale was vital to Arsenal's 4-1 victory, saving from Rodri, with the Gunners keeper insisting that the psychological barrier blighting the squad has vanished in the aftermath of the stirring achievement.

"It's a statement," Ramsdale said after the match. "It's a marker to know we can go and beat City in a big game when it matters.

"I'm not sure what it'll be like this season. But that mental block is gone. We're ready to push on now."

Arsenal led the Premier League for 248 days last season - no side has spent as long at the summit of the English top-flight and failed to win it.

However, all that was forgotten when captain Martin Odegaard lifted the Community Shield after dramatic scenes at Wembley following Fabio Vieira's winning spot-kick - finding Stefan Ortega’s top‑right corner - to seal silverware for the jubilant Gunners.

City had been cruising to victory prior to Trossard's late equaliser, that sent an absorbing match into a penalty shootout that ended in gleeful scenes on the hallowed Wembley turf for the Gunners.

City's talented teen Cole Palmer's excellent strike for Guardiola's treble winners looked to have won the match, before it was cancelled out by Trossard's leveller, to ensure it was honours even over 90 minutes in this gripping Wembley curtain raiser, before the Gunners sealed the penalty shootout.

There was much to admire from both sides during the traditional season-opener at the national stadium in front of 81,145 supporters on a sunny Sunday afternoon under the arch in north-west London.

Arteta's lively side had the better of the opening 45 minutes, as new signings Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber featured in the starting XI, as the new look Gunners displayed exceptional movement on and off the ball, allied with an impressive intensity and pressing that visibly harried the City side.

Timber was the most impressive of the three at left-back, with the arrival of the trio adding great depth to a squad that was so lacking at the business end of last season.

Yet, Guardiola's City remain a class act having lifted the treble earlier this summer, and showed prowess as the game wore on, culminating in Palmer's goal - only to be denied at the last by the Gunners £28m January signing from Brighton.

The game was notable for Gunners boss Arteta being booked by Stuart Atwell on 16 minutes, after the North London boss forcefully demanded that City’s Rodri be booked, as the new directives and regulations take hold regarding player and manager’s behaviour.

Ten minutes later Arsenal could and should have gone ahead, when Havertz - and Gabi Martinelli following up - had their efforts blocked, as the tempo ramped up further.

On 35 minutes Bukayo Saka cut inside to fire narrowly past keeper Ortega’s far post as the first half ended goalless, while seven minutes after the break, Ramsdale saved well from John Stones.

Guardiola then hooked Erling Haaland - who had scored 52 goals in all competitions last term – as City’s talisman laboured in the Wembley sunshine, struggling to make an impact with just 13 touches of the ball, before he was replaced by Palmer.

The lively youngster, who played a big part in England U21s winning the European Championships at their level earlier this summer, nearly struck shortly after coming on, but his shot was deflected over Ramsdale's bar with 20 minutes remaining.

That was before the 21-year-old Manchester-born attacker emphatically showcased his talent by curling a superlative left-footed shot past the despairing dive of Ramsdale to put City 1-0 up on 77 minutes - as Guardiola's City looked set to start the new season as they ended the last, with silverware. Prior to Trossard's late leveller and Arsenal’s spot-kick success.

Reflecting on the loss, a phlegmatic Guardiola said afterwards: “"Win or lose, right now I know the position of the team," he said in his post-match press conference.

"We would love to win today absolutely but sometimes you have to accept it and give credit to your opponent."