Football
ESPN staff 10y

Arsene Wenger hails Arsenal victory

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was delighted with the football his team played as they warmed up for the Premier League season with an emphatic 3-0 Community Shield win over champions Manchester City.

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The Gunners were in control at the break as fine strikes from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey gave them a 2-0 cushion, with a long-range third from Olivier Giroud adding further gloss.

They were rarely troubled by City, and Wenger told BT Sport: "Overall, it was a united team performance.

"Aaron Ramsey's goal was good and it showed that the belief was there -- but what I keep in mind is that it was a real team performance."

The Arsenal boss praised debutant Calum Chambers, who put in a composed central defensive performance, saying: "I have seen the qualities he has shown today. He had never played alongside Nacho Monreal before, and he was outstanding.

"Alexis Sanchez is not completely ready physically, but he was lively in the first half and it will be very interesting for the future. People who watch the Premier League should be excited because we have so many strong teams."

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, Wenger said it was important "to win a trophy, even though it is not a major one," and praised his players for the belief they had shown throughout the match.

"This showed that when the team is focused, we have a chance to win," he added. "We want to go into each game with the same confidence and belief."

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta said he was optimistic for the season ahead, adding that he believed they were "looking very good with some very good signings, so that's only going to strengthen the team."

"When you look at the bench and all the options we have to change the game, I hope it's going to be a good season," he told BT Sport. "We ended last season well with the FA Cup, so hopefully we'll continue well.

"We've got pace up front now and it makes a big difference, so we're really happy to get another trophy."

Ramsey, whose fine strike put Arsenal in that commanding half-time position, voiced similar sentiments, saying: "We have a good team spirit -- we all get along really well now, and everybody wants to work hard for each other.

"The thing we need to improve on is the big games, so hopefully we've learned our lesson and we can go into this season and give it a really good go."

Disappointed City manager Manuel Pellegrini said his side had got better after the break, but told BT Sport: "These things happen before the season starts. It was not the pace we played in pre-season, but I will talk with the players and I am sure we will be ready to start the Premier League.

"I think that in the Premier League you have five or six teams who can win the league because they all have a strong squad. We must demonstrate from the beginning why we won the title last year."

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