A solid starting point for Gunners

Arsenal 3 Manchester City 0

Arsene Wenger knows better than to read too much into the outcome of the Community Shield, but yesterday’s convincing victory — secured by goals from Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud — ensures the manager can look forward to the start of the Premier League satisfied his team is taking shape and remain buoyed by May’s FA Cup success.

Twelve months ago it was a very different story, with the manager’s failure to strengthen his squad prompting criticism that intensified when the Gunners lost their opening league game 3-1 at home to Aston Villa.

This time around there is a sense of growing optimism with four new faces already on board and, on the evidence of this win, a cohesive squad is beginning to take shape.

Like Wenger, Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, will avoid placing too much importance on this result.

Both sides were missing a number of players who are still recovering from the exertions at this summer’s World Cup finals, giving the two line-ups a makeshift look.

The roll-call of City’s absentees, however, was lengthier than that of Arsenal with Pellegrini fielding a back-four that is unlikely to appear together again this season.

With the spine of their first choice line-up absent — Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis, Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero were among those looking on from the stands — it was perhaps understandable City’s efforts were too often stuttering.

Yet for all the ready-made excuses, this performance pointed to weaknesses within Pellegrini’s squad, particularly the lack of depth in central defence, and the arrival of Eliaquim Mangala frpm Porto cannot come soon enough.

Next Sunday’s trip to Newcastle is looming large, however, and Pellegrini will expect to see rapid improvement on the club’s training pitches this week before his side begin their defence of their Premier League title.

Arsenal looked much more convincing and from the moment Cazorla put them ahead in the 21st minute, never looked likely to lose control of the game.

Ramsey’s strike three minutes before the break gave Wenger’s side a deserved two-goal lead at half-time and while City responded positively at the start of the second half, Giroud’s looping 60th minute shot effectively killed off the game.

Wenger is convinced his squad will be better equipped to challenge for the title and a second Wembley triumph in three months will do nothing to alter that opinion.

The excited talk after the victory over Hull was that having secured the club’s first piece of silverware in nine years, Wenger’s side could go on and develop a winning habit. Mikel Arteta spoke last week about the belief that now permeates the club and the opportunity to parade another piece of silverware around Wembley will do nothing to diminish that.

Arteta also spoke of the importance of standing up to one of their main rivals after last season’s chastening experiences against the rest of the top four.

Wenger’s side were humiliated at City, Chelsea and Liverpool, suffering the kind of beatings that suggested a significant gap in class between the Emirates Stadium club and the other leading teams.

The true test will come when points are at stake, but a 3-0 victory over the reigning champions is as good a start as any.

Certainly there were plenty of positives for Wenger to draw on.

Calum Chambers, signed primarily as a right-back, again slotted in well in central defence in place of the rested Per Mertesacker while Alexis Sanchez looked lively as he got more valuable minutes under his belt.

Sanchez operated to the right of Yaya Sanogo who continued his impressive summer form, confirming he will offer more effective back-up for Giroud this season.

Arsenal were also helped by Pellegrini’s decision to operate with two forwards, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic.

Out-numbered in midfield, City pair Yaya Toure and Fernando were unable to assert themselves and their opponents took full advantage by establishing a platform in the central areas.

There was a disjointed look to the game in the opening stages but Arsenal gelled more quickly and forced the lead when Cazorla collected a loose ball on the edge of the area and, taking advantage of Dedryck Boyata’s poor positioning, created space before beating Willy Caballero with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Caballero had been selected ahead of Joe Hart, confirming City’s goalkeeping position remains up, reinforcing Pellegrini’s claim that he has not yet settled on a number one.

Boyata was unexpectedly paired with Matija Nastasic in central defence and the inexperienced dup were caught out again when Sanogo held the ball up well before laying off to Ramsey.

The Wales international broke through a weak challenge from Nastasic before beating Caballero from 10 yards out.

City threatened to work their way back into the game at the start of the second period with Jovetic heading against the post before drawing and excellent save from Wojciech Szcesny.

But Giroud ended the recovery when he held off Bruno Zuculini before sending a deflected 20-yard shot over the head of Caballero.

Arsenal’s attention now turns to Crystal Palace next Saturday and the first leg of the Champions League qualifier against Besiktas three days later.

Wenger is entitled to draw a quiet confidence from his side’s efforts so far while Pellegrini will hope his returning key players can quickly hit their stride.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 6; Debuchy 7, Koscielny 6 (Monreal 46, 7), Chambers 8, Gibbs, 7; Arteta 7, Wilshere 6 (Flamini 68, 6); Sanchez 7 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 46, 6), Ramsey 8(Campbell 88, 6), Cazorla 8 (Rosicky 70, 6); Sanogo 7 (Giroud 46, 7).

MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-2): Caballero 7; Clichy 6, Boyata 5, Nastasic 5, Kolarov 6 (Richards 76, 6); Navas 6 (Sinclair 85, 6), Y Toure 6 (Zuculini 60, 5), Fernando 7, Nasri 6 (Silva 46, 6); Dzeko 6, Jovetic 7.

Referee: Mike Oliver.