Arsenal beat Manchester City in the Community Shield.

 Arsenal beat Manchester City in the Community Shield

It's that time of the year again. Summer is fading into a glorious sunset, autumn is looking for its first yellowing leaves and the new football season is knocking on our door yet again. It only seems like yesterday since we were plastering sun factor 55 onto our bodies and the holiday season was in full swing. Football has once again resurfaced from its hibernation after perhaps the longest season of all time. It's hard to believe that West Ham United were still competing in the UEFA Europa Conference Final in early June and winning it. This was hard on the heels of Manchester City's FA Cup Final derby  victory over their noisy neighbours Manchester City in early June and the Champions League victory over Inter Milan shortly afterwards.

So after a decent interval, football paused contentedly to catch its breath and here we are back in the first week of August. This is the moment when the shrill whistle of the referee, VAR sprays signifying free kicks, contentious offside decisions and pitch side monitors employed to arbitrate on the authenticity of goals, will all provide a familiar backdrop to both the Premier League and the rest of the Football League.

When Manchester City wrapped up the Treble of FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League we thought we'd seen it all. City had used so many geometric angles and then played some of the most beautifully imposing football that there was a sense that things could never get any better. The template had been set and even Arsenal had to take off their collective hats by way of showing their effusive appreciation.

For much of last season Arsenal seemed to be racing away with the Premier League title but then hit a solid brick wall in the concluding weeks of the season. First there was the squandering of a two goal lead at Anfield when Liverpool could hardly believe what they were witnessing, then the Gunners travelled across London to West Ham where history repeated itself before Southampton rubbed their eyes with wonderment at the Emirates, holding the Gunners to a season defining 3-3 draw. Then Arsenal, almost drained of all confidence by now, were beaten quite emphatically by Brighton at the Emirates 3-0.

Yesterday City went head to head with Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in the Community Shield. In another incarnation, this traditional curtain raiser to the football season used to be known as the Charity Shield. But that was the point when football detached itself from its moral compass or so some thought. Football shook hands with Saudi sheikhs and owners, Americans with only rampant materialism on their minds and then those now celebrated TV channels who demand millions of pounds from their subscribers. 

The fans looked on aghast and dumbfounded barely grasping the exponential damage that had been inflicted on the game. During the summer Declan Rice had become the latest victim of circumstances when Arsenal forked out £105 million for the former West Ham captain who had just won the Europa Conference Final against Fiorentina in Prague. Some of us were convinced that football had completely lost possession of its senses, gone barmy and just found itself in the middle of the free market economy  unable to escape.

So three months later Rice lined up for his new club as if nothing had happened. For a while we thought the negotiations for Rice's transfer to Arsenal would still be ongoing just a week before Christmas. But yesterday Rice donned the red shirt acutely aware that the vast footballing community would be watching with a good deal of fascination and ever so critically. But the former Chelsea apprentice overcame the first of many hurdles and once again lifted another trophy.

And yet Manchester City, still floating on a cloud of elation after their stunning Treble exploits, worked their way stylishly and attractively into the game with their now customary party pieces and subtle mannerisms. For most of the first half an hour John Stones was at his most magisterial, blocking all avenues to goal for Arsenal then gliding imperiously into space in the middle of the park. Bernardo Silva is one of those skilful full backs who never disappoints, scampering and scurrying into space, sprinting tirelessly into the Arsenal penalty area with marauding raids and Kyle Walker seems to get faster and more mobile with age.

Julian Alvarez was spreading a typically profound influence on the match with his delicate passing and free roaming missions in the middle while City were humming the most mellifluous tune. Then Rodri ganged up with Jack Grealish who is beginning to look like one of the most dependable of midfield players for England. City were at their most well organised, inventive and mesmeric. Their passes shimmered across the green acres of the Wembley pitch as if illuminated by a chandelier and the City attacking momentum was quite literally irresistible.

When Cole Porter, one of City's conveyor belt of young academy graduates, picked up the ball in acres of space, it seemed that nothing would materialise. But the brilliant ingenuity that had preceded Porter's goal for City was a sight to behold. From deep in their own defence, the ball was moved to another City product Phil Foden. In quite the most delightful turn and then turn of pace at speed, Foden ran quite majestically into the Arsenal half. Foden threaded the ball through to Porter who ushered the ball towards him before cutting back onto his shooting feet. Porter then curled a deliciously curling and bending low shot that flew past Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale. 1-0 to City.

But then Arsenal slowly eased their way back into a moderately entertaining match. Both new boy Julien Timber, William Samba at his most authoritative and Rice were playing out from the back with that methodical approach we've come to expect from a contemporary Arsenal side. Rice, in particular seemed to be roving in a much more advanced attacking role. Then the artistic Leandro Trossard, a shrewd Arsenal investment from Brighton, joined forces with the superbly tireless Martin Odegaard who in turn passed the ball across the centre of the pitch with a tenderness and spontaneity that seemed to come naturally to them.

At this point the Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's now emotional manager, now looked as if he was staring into a mirror. In the opposing technical area, Arteta's mentor Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and it was no coincidence that Arteta was now utilising much of the coaching expertise he'd learnt from Guardiola while he was assistant coach at Manchester City. Arteta started galloping up and down the touchline as if this were a dress rehearsal for a potential Champions League Final. The face expressed horror when Arsenal were denied a certain free kick and the game now turned full circle.

With seconds to go though it looked as if Arsenal had exhausted every available opportunity. But a last ditch corner was quickly taken short out to Saka who darted around his opponent before finding Trossard. The quick witted Swiss playmaker collected the ball and then struck low towards goal. A huge deflection took the ball away from City's helpless keeper Stefan Ortega and Arsenal were level.

And then it came for the penalty shoot out, that often dreaded lottery which some of us still find highly debatable but perhaps necessary since somebody has to win. Immaculately struck penalties took us to sudden death. Then City took their eye off the ball momentarily and, after missing their penalty, Arsenal's Fabio Vieira, a surname never to be forgotten by Arsenal's devoted faithful, clipped the ball high into the net for Arsenal's decisive winner. Arsenal had won their first trophy of the season. They must be hoping to add to their collection. The Premier League awaits with enormous anticipation.