Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has warned the club’s rivals that the Gunners are aiming for more than just another successful Premier League campaign after opening the 2026/27 season with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Mikel Arteta’s side delivered a commanding performance at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday, defeating Manchester City to claim the first major piece of silverware available this season. Odegaard capped the impressive display with Arsenal’s third goal and was subsequently named man of the match.
The victory has immediately raised expectations around the Premier League champions, who are entering the new campaign with ambitions of competing for every major trophy available to them.
Odegaard made it clear after the match that Arsenal’s hunger extends well beyond the Community Shield.
The Norwegian midfielder said the team’s ambition is to challenge for everything this season, including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
His comments underline the confidence within the Arsenal dressing room following a performance that showed the Gunners remain capable of competing at the highest level.
Arsenal’s victory was built on an outstanding start. Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring after just 23 seconds, producing one of the fastest goals in Community Shield history. The Italian defender capitalised on a quick Arsenal move before calmly beating Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The early goal immediately put City under pressure and allowed Arsenal to dictate the rhythm of the contest.
The Gunners continued to press aggressively, forcing Manchester City into mistakes while creating several opportunities in the final third. City’s players struggled to find the fluidity normally associated with Pep Guardiola’s former side, particularly in midfield.
Arsenal eventually doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Kai Havertz headed home from close range.
Martin Odegaard was involved in the build-up, while new signing Christos Tzolis played an important role in creating the opportunity. The German forward’s finish gave Arsenal a 2-0 advantage before half-time and left Manchester City facing an uphill battle.
City attempted to respond after the interval, but Arsenal quickly delivered another blow.
Odegaard scored Arsenal’s third goal shortly after the restart, calmly finishing after receiving the ball in a dangerous position. The strike completed an excellent individual performance from the Arsenal captain and effectively ended City’s hopes of recovering from the two goal deficit.
The Norwegian’s influence was not limited to his goal. He repeatedly connected Arsenal’s midfield with the attack, helped the team maintain possession and demonstrated the leadership expected from the club captain.
For Odegaard, lifting the Community Shield was an encouraging beginning, but he knows the real challenges are still ahead.
Arsenal ended last season as Premier League champions, finally ending a 22 year wait for the league title. They finished seven points ahead of Manchester City after collecting 85 points across the campaign.
That achievement has naturally increased expectations.
The club will now attempt to defend its domestic crown while pursuing European glory. Arsenal have reached the latter stages of the Champions League in recent seasons but have yet to win Europe’s premier club competition.
Odegaard’s ambition reflects the belief that the current Arsenal squad has enough quality to compete on multiple fronts.
The club has also strengthened during the summer transfer window, adding players including Bruno Guimaraes, Christos Tzolis and goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Those additions have increased the depth available to Arteta as he prepares for another demanding campaign.
The Community Shield victory also provided encouragement for several of Arsenal’s new and returning players.
Tzolis was particularly impressive, contributing two assists and constantly troubling the Manchester City defence. His performance suggested that he could become an important attacking option during the season.
At the other end of the pitch, David Raya helped Arsenal preserve their clean sheet as City struggled to create clear opportunities.
For Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, the afternoon was considerably more difficult. The Italian was taking charge of his first competitive match since replacing Guardiola and saw his team beaten comprehensively by the reigning Premier League champions.
However, the Community Shield remains only the opening chapter of a long season. City will have opportunities to respond once the Premier League campaign begins, and Maresca will have time to address the weaknesses exposed in Cardiff.
Arsenal, meanwhile, can enjoy the confidence that comes with winning a trophy before the league season has even started.
The victory also reinforces Arteta’s growing reputation as one of Europe’s leading managers. After guiding Arsenal back to the top of English football, he now has the opportunity to build a period of sustained success.
Odegaard’s declaration that Arsenal want to “win everything” will undoubtedly add pressure, but it also reflects the mentality of a team that no longer wants to settle for being competitive.
The Gunners have already collected their first trophy.
Now, according to their captain, they want the rest.
