On 16/8 at Principality Stadium, Arsenal secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the English Super Cup, a performance manager Mikel Arteta immediately hailed as the new standard for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring just 23 seconds into the match, marking the earliest goal in an English Super Cup since 1968. Kai Havertz doubled the lead in the 28th minute, with captain Martin Odegaard adding a third early in the second half.

Arteta emphasized the team's unwavering desire and thorough preparation. "We talked about the hunger we must have at the start of the season and how much we want to show ourselves. I certainly saw many positives against a top opponent," Arteta stated after the match. He attributed this success to the team's diligent pre-season work and the players' commitment after the World Cup, ensuring they returned early and integrated fully.

Coach Mikel Arteta with the trophy after Arsenal beat Man City 3-0 in the English Super Cup match at Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales on 16/8/2026. Photo: Arsenal FC

The Spanish coach highly praised his players' desire. "They really wanted to win this title, because it's the reward we got from last season, when we earned the right to face Man City here," he continued. "I was very impressed with the performance, especially the way the team competed. That is Arsenal's standard. If we maintain this standard, I am sure we will be very competitive."

Despite Manchester City fielding a strong lineup, including star striker Erling Haaland and 153 million USD signing Elliot Anderson, they struggled to create significant pressure on Arsenal. For the Gunners, two new signings, Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes, made immediate impacts. Tzolis provided two assists for Havertz and Odegaard, while Guimaraes displayed an energetic and aggressive presence in midfield before being replaced by Declan Rice in the second half. Arteta praised Tzolis's composure near the penalty area and Guimaraes's quick display of strength and influence.

Arteta also used the opportunity to advocate for larger Premier League squad registrations, particularly for substitutes, citing the increasingly demanding fixture schedule. He noted that Arsenal had to omit quality players like Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, and Gabriel Jesus from the matchday squad against Manchester City. The Spanish coach expressed regret over having to leave out such talented individuals, especially when their skills could be crucial in any given game.

This English Super Cup win comes just 84 days after Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park in May. Arteta believes this latest success will further motivate the Gunners to pursue greater achievements. However, he stressed the importance of maintaining high standards and a strong desire to win. He also urged his players to recover swiftly in preparation for their Premier League opener against Coventry on 21/8.

Hong Duy (according to ESPN, Arsenal.com)