Gunners outclass rivals in Cardiff as new season warning fired. Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring after only 23 seconds, slotting home after a lovely pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly after Noni Madueke had kept pressure on.
City struggled to create, but David Raya eventually palmed away Phil Foden before Arsenal added to their cushion in the 28th minute. After Christos Tzolis cleverly headed Martin Odegaard’s pass across goal, Kai Havertz arrived at the far post to nod home despite touching the ball past the fingertips of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Erling Haaland wasted City’s best chance to reply before the break after straying ahead, and blazed straight at Raya from a glorious position inside the box, as the Premier League champion, who went close to a third with Calafiori and Odegaard late in the first half, ultimately deserved their lead.
Skipper Odegaard completed the rout three minutes after the interval as he brilliantly danced around the challenge of Josko Gvardiol, dummied towards Gianluigi Donnarumma before rolling the ball into the back of the net to make it three.
Mikel Arteta nearly bagged a fourth, but Bukayo Saka blazed just over.
The win provides Arsenal with a welcome bit of confidence to carry into the new Premier League season and poses immediate questions for Enzo Maresca, managing City for the first time in a competitive game.
