Arsenal fell foul of English football’s new laws yet still managed to edge Manchester City to win the Community Shield.
The refereeing took centre stage for large parts of the game, with new directives handed out to clubs for the 2023-24 campaign as officials take a stern line on dissent.
Thomas Partey was the first victim inside the opening ten mintues, taking a yellow card for knocking the ball only a few yards away after a foul on Julian Alvarez.
Stuart Attwell was not a popular man with the Gunners’ end at Wembley when pulling up a City foul and then booking Mikel Arteta for his remonstrations on the touchline.
Further leniency is expected to be given to physical fouls yet Kai Havertz earned no such reprieve for a needless trip in the 27th minute, which earned him a booking.
Julian Alvarez then followed Partey in clashing with the new dissent rules when nudging the ball away after committing a foul. This season’s protocols expect players to leave the ball alone entirely in such moments.
Martin Odegaard was the next to fall foul when going off for treatment early in the second half and being forced to go through the 30-second return rule, leading to exasperation on the touchline. Soon after, Gabriel became the latest man on a yellow for timewasting as Stefan Ortega looked to take a quick goal kick.
In the game itself, City dominated possession in the first half yet came closest late on when Rodri attempted to lob Aaron Ramsdale from the halfway line - landing his attempt on the roof of the grateful goalkeeper’s net.
Havertz failed to make the most of two big openings on his Arsenal debut before John Stones’ header tested Ramsdale early in the second period.
Cole Palmer hit the winner after 77 minutes with a fantastic finish, cutting in on his left foot to curl into the top corner having come off the bench only minutes earlier.
Phil Foden and Rodri were denied a vital second moments later before Arsenal snatched a late, deflected leveller through Leandro Trossard.
Kevin De Bruyne hit the bar and Rodri saw his effort saved in the penalty shootout with four perfect kicks securing the trophy for the Gunners.
