🎧 197 | Community Shield Review: Arsenal Sit City Down

WE ARE VERY GOOD & WINNING TROPHIES IS FUN

Arsenal kicked off the season exactly how champions should by beating Manchester City 3–0 at Wembley and lifting the Community Shield. Tabs and Kuziva sit down to unpack what the win actually means, how Arsenal looked, how City looked, and what this performance tells us heading into the Premier League opener.

We talk through the feel of the day, the confidence boost, and why this fixture — friendly or not — matters more when you’re the reigning champions. There’s chat about the starting XI, the surprise absences, and how Arteta is juggling fitness, squad limits and early‑season preparation.

We break down the big themes from the match, the sharpness of key players, the standout performances from Ødegaard and Tzolis, and MLS' mentality and what a difference a Raya makes. We also touch on what City looked like under their new manager, and why they never really threatened.

We round things off with a look at the tactical patterns, the right‑side dominance, the pace issue in midfield, and what this game hinted about the opening weeks of the season — especially with Saliba, Timber, Saka and Rice still building fitness.

There’s a final detour into the other part of the Arsenal matchday experience — the ticketing website. Tabs and Kuziva chat about how poor it is for a club like Arsenal to not be able to have a fit for purpose ticketing website and why it's so disrespectful to the fans who spend so much time effort and money trying to support The Arsenal; something needs to be done, it's embarrassing!It’s a relaxed, celebratory review of a comfortable win, a trophy lift, and a reminder that Arsenal are starting the season with momentum, swagger and depth.

COYG.

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: thegrovepodcast@outlook.com

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)