Arsenal claim season’s first trophy

LONDON — Arsenal prepared for the Premier League season by collecting the Community Shield with a 3-0 win over Manchester City yesterday, picking up where the team left off at the FA Cup final by adding another piece of silverware at Wembley.

Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey, who both scored in the FA Cup triumph that ended Arsenal’s nine-year trophy drought in May, also netted against City with well-taken first-half strikes.

A makeshift City was a shadow of the team that won the Premier League for the second time in three years in May. And Olivier Giroud added to City’s discomfort by scoring with a dipping strike on the hour in the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season between the Premier League and FA Cup champions.

“We have a great team ethic, we are all together and hopefully we can take that into the season,” Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere said.

Arsenal open their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on Saturday, looking to win the title for the first time in 11 years.

Winning the Shield might set the tone for the opening weeks of the season, but is likely to be forgotten quickly. Given how City’s makeshift team performed in the first half, with just four of the players who started the title-clinching Premier League finale in May, this game clearly ranked low on the priority list.

England goalkeeper Joe Hart was on the bench as new signing Willy Caballero was preferred in goal. But the recruit from Malaga conceded three times.

The Gunners, with US$60 million (S$75.1 million) forward Alexis Sanchez making his full debut, were in control throughout against a City side that provided little threat.

Just like in the FA Cup final win against Hull, Cazorla scored Arsenal’s first goal. Wilshere and Yaya Sanogo combined before the ball broke for Cazorla to strike low into the net in the 21st minute.

Sanogo dragged a shot wide and had a header collected by Caballero before helping ensure that Arsenal’s cushion was doubled before half time. Completing a swift break, the French forward held off Dedryck Boyata before passing for Ramsey to neatly stab the ball home in the 42nd.

Although City appeared more effective at the start of the second half, the deficit was extended on the hour when Giroud was given the space to send a dipping strike past Caballero. AP