In a thrilling Community Shield match that went to penalties, Arsenal triumphed over Manchester City, bringing an end to City’s dominant reign.

The success of the shoot-out was attributed to a deliberate tactic that saw each Arsenal player wait for over five seconds before taking their penalty, a strategy noted by sports psychologist Geir Jordet.

• Arsenal triumph over Manchester City in the Community Shield after a penalty shoot-out, with unique tactics employed.
• Sports psychologist Geir Jordet identifies a pattern where Arsenal players paused for over five seconds before taking penalties.
• Mikel Arteta confirms that this deliberate tactic was part of Arsenal’s pre-season training.

In the high-stakes world of football, strategy can be a game-changer, as demonstrated by Arsenal in their Community Shield victory against Manchester City.

Sports psychologist Geir Jordet noted that each Arsenal player waited for over five seconds before hitting a penalty, reflecting a controlled and composed approach.

Jordet took to Twitter to praise Arsenal’s method, saying, “Rare to see a team approach penalties so deliberately, controlled and composed as Arsenal did in the Community Shield today. Every player paused >5 seconds after the whistle. This never guarantees success, but it suggests a collective plan to ACTIVELY control oneself under stress.”

The North Londoners’ approach certainly yielded results, as Matin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Fabio Vieira all found the back of the net.

Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that this was no accidental occurrence, but part of a well-laid plan.

He stated: “We’ve done it [taken part in a shootout] three times in pre-season. It was part of the plan to get ready just in case we had to do it today, that it wasn’t the first time to do that, and I think that it paid off.”

This proactive approach led to Arsenal’s first trophy win since 2020 and marked a new milestone in the club’s journey.

The dramatic match saw City’s Cole Palmer open the scoring at 77 minutes, only for Arsenal to level in the 11th minute of stoppage time. This set the stage for a shoot-out that will be remembered for Arsenal’s strategic mastery.

Arsenal’s triumph in the Community Shield is a testament to the power of planning, strategy, and mental fortitude.

By integrating these deliberate tactics into their pre-season preparation, Arsenal’s team showcased a new level of excellence that bodes well for the future.