Arsenal produced an ominous performance to win the Community Shield
Arsenal produced an ominous performance to win the Community Shield(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC)
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Arsenal made a statement on Sunday as they dismantled Manchester City in the Community Shield - taking the lead inside 30 seconds and never looking back.
City were the only team to give the Gunners a challenge last season, before eventually falling short, but the gap looks to have massively widened as they embark on their post-Pep Guardiola era.
Mikel Arteta has wasted no time pressing home the Arsenal advantage, adding the likes of Bruno Guimaraes with the Gunners boasting, in the eyes of many, the best squad in the Premier League.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are all under new management and will hope to spoil the party, but they have huge gaps to make up on Arsenal, who only look to be getting stronger.
In the last 15 years City are the only team to defend their Premier League crown, but Arsenal look well equipped to emulate that achievement. It might only be one game, regarded by some as a glorified pre-season friendly, but Arteta's outfit looked ominous ahead of the season kicking off.
Can anyone stop them from going back-to-back? We ask the Mirror Football writers.
Ben Husband
It feels like the perfect storm for Arsenal. Not only are they the strongest side in the league, but their rivals all seem to have huge issues.
City are not only heading into the first season of the post-Pep era, they will be doing it without their talismanic midfielder Rodri. They will replace him with a big-money signing, but it feels like it could be a transitional season for Enzo Maresca.
Arsenal are seeking to retain their Premier League crown
Arsenal are seeking to retain their Premier League crown
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That can also be said for Liverpool, who have spent the entire summer hoping their defensive issues will solve themselves. Andoni Iraola is also implementing a completely different style which could take time to bed in.
Manchester United also feel short of being able to compete across multiple fronts, while Chelsea - who will be much improved - are still flawed.
That all means that the door is wide open for the Gunners to reclaim their crown. They are settled, solid and could be even better than last season. Arsenal are firmly in the driving seat to win another title.
Sam Meade
If Arsenal are to be stopped then it will take a serious performance to deny them. All the conventional wisdom says that the Gunners, who've added the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, will win the Premier League.
Questions hang over so many of their rivals, the majority of whom have new man at the helm who still need to get their ideas across and embed their philosophy.
Manchester United need to prove they can be a season-long side, not just one who can make the most of a new manager bounce, as they did under Michael Carrick.
Man City were outclassed in Cardiff on Sunday
Man City were outclassed in Cardiff on Sunday(Image: (Alex Pantling - The FA/The FA via Getty Images))
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The Premier League has surprised us in the past - Liverpool in 2024/25 came out of nowhere to win under Arne Slot in their first year as they eased to the title.
It'll need another similar effort if Arsenal are to be denied, but that looks unlikely right now.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal lifts the Premier League trophy during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League)
Jeremy Cross
Arsenal laid down quite a marker to the rest of the Premier League in winning the Community Shield. It was a statement of intent.
The shackles have been released following last season's long-awaited title triumph. Manchester City and Liverpool are going through periods of transition with new managers, Manchester United have failed to strengthen their squad and Chelsea remain as unpredictable as always.
It feels like the perfect storm for Mikel Arteta. A real chance to go on and dominate the domestic scene. On current evidence, no-one will be capable of stopping him from doing so.
Felix Keith
It would be foolish to rule out any of Arsenal's rivals before a ball has even been kicked in the Premier League this season.
The Gunners are rightly installed as the bookies' favourites and Pep Guardiola's departure is undoubtedly a factor in their favour. But they are far from infallible. As things stand, Arsenal have failed to bring in cover for the injured William Saliba and failed to land a world-class attacker, with Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez out of reach.
Michael Carrick will look to continue with the momentum he built last season
Michael Carrick will look to continue with the momentum he built last season(Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
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City may be in transition but they still have the division's best striker in Erling Haaland and a squad stacked with talent. They remain Arsenal's closest competitors.
Liverpool are obviously short in a few positions and I have my doubts over some key players. Can Virgil van Dijk keep performing at the highest level every week aged 35? Does Alexis Mac Allister have the engine to carry out a high press? Will Alexander Isak ever look like a £125m striker?
Manchester United showed they aren't far off, but Michael Carrick will, for the first time, have to cope with more than one competition, while Xabi Alonso has a huge task whipping a bloated Chelsea squad into shape.
Arsenal are the safest bet right now. But with two weeks of the transfer window still to go much can change.