Howard the 'shield' for United

Arsenal 1 Manchester United 1 (Man Utd win 4-3 on penalties)

The American, who was preferred to Fabien Barthez in the starting line-up, flung himself to deny both Giovanni van Bronckhorst and, most crucially, Robert Pires in a penalty shoot-out.

Arsenal, who had seen Francis Jeffers become the 50th player to be sent off since Wenger took charge of the club in 1996, were therefore undone by a former basketball player.

However, after a match in which they were fortunate to only have one player sent off, they had rather more cause to reflect upon their own indiscipline.

The Gunners may have worked hard to improve their disciplinary record over recent years but they still managed to incur five dismissals last season.

And while Jeffers may be Thierry Henry's deputy at Arsenal, his dismissal should still mean a three-match ban, just when his side need to make a strong start in their bid to dethrone United.

However, Jeffers, a second-half substitute for Henry, was sent off for kicking out at Phil Neville while the United defender was lying on the ground.

And Campbell was himself fortunate not to be sent off again in Cardiff, as was Ashley Cole in an earlier clash as he became one of five players to be booked on either side.

Jeffers subsequently apologised to the Highbury staff after his sending off.

Wenger, however, insists the Londoners are a now a much more disciplined side. And he took a fairly soft line with Jeffers.

"Jeffers made a mistake. He is an intelligent boy who will learn from that. He was frustrated and he shouldn't have done it. He is young and when he came on he wanted to show how good he was.

"I feel as well he missed one or two touches before the sending off. He got frustrated with his control. He was certainly not happy," he said.

Jeffers was quick to say sorry. "It was a foul initiated by Phil Neville. My reaction was silly and I have apologised to the manager and my team mates."

Neville said: "The referee stamped his authority on the game early on and after that there were not too many problems with the exception of one or two incidents."

Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole also got in a couple of stiff challenges, with suggestions they too should have been dismissed.

But Wenger responded: "Do you want everyone sent off? I didn't see Sol's challenge and to send Ashley off in the Community Shield would have been harsh.

"Frankly I feel in the last two years we have improved immensely with our discipline. We had some problems, which I don't deny. But I feel that least season and the season before we improved a lot on our disciplinary record. It was quite good last year."

United manager Alex Ferguson however, believes all the players deserve credit for their performance in sweltering conditions. "At one point it was 41 degrees on the pitch," he said. "The atmosphere and climate are alien to us. On a day like today I am happy winning the trophy.

"It was hard work and not a game you can take any measurement from. It wasn't a typical Manchester United/ Arsenal game. It is usually more cut and thrust.

"There were a few flashpoints, but that's what you expect when it is Manchester United," said Ferguson.

The match itself had been a lively affair, with Mikael Silvestre's early header quickly cancelled out by a superb free-kick from Henry.

The late drama should not detract from a supreme display from Paul Scholes, who ensured the summer departures of David Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron were no problem for United on this occasion.

The champions served notice that Arsenal and, indeed, Chelsea, Liverpool or Newcastle, must overthrow the established order if they are to challenge for the title.

MAN UTD: Howard, Phil Neville (Forlan 78), Ferdinand, Keane, Silvestre, Solskjaer, Butt (Djemba-Djemba 61), Fortune (O'Shea 68), Giggs, Scholes, van Nistelrooy.

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Cole, Campbell, Toure, Parlour (Pires 45), Ljungberg (van Bronckhorst 64), Silva (Edu 61), Vieira, Henry (Wiltord 45), Bergkamp (Jeffers 60).