On Sunday evening, this year’s edition of the Community Shield was played in London. The match is played every year between the Premier League champion and the FA Cup champion in English men’s football. If the same team that wins the league also wins the cup, the team that came second in the Premier League is the opposition instead.
Manchester City won both the Premier League and the FA Cup last season and the opponents were then Premier League runners-up Arsenal.
But it would initially be an uneventful match between the top teams.
Manchester City star Erling Haaland didn’t make much of a fuss in the match and was replaced by Cole Palmer in the second half.
However, it would prove to be a successful move.
In the 77th minute, the 21-year-old struck with a real class goal to give Manchester City a 1-0 lead.
1–0 looked set to be the final score of the match, but in the eleventh minute of added time, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard equalized to make it 1–1.
The Premier League season would thus begin with penalty kicks.
Manchester City offered weak penalties where both Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri missed. Arsenal, on the other hand, were all the stronger and won the penalty shootout 4–1.
Manchester City open the Premier League season on Friday next week against newcomers Burnley. Arsenal open the season the following day (Saturday) against Nottingham Forest.