Arsenal win Community Shield

Arsenal have won the first silverware of the season as they lifted the Community Shield.

The Gunners beat Chelsea 4-1 on penalties, after finishing the match 1-1.

The game started in a sombre tone as Wembley observed a minute’s silence in remembrance for the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Proceeds from the tie were given to provide relief to families of the disaster.

What is usually a tame affair soon became feisty, culminating in Chelsea’s Pedro being sent off for a lunge on Mohamed Elneny.

A header by debutant Sead Kolasinac from the resultant free-kick saw Arsenal draw level with Chelsea, who were put ahead by a goal from Victor Moses.

After a goalless extra-time the new ABBA penalty format was tried out, leading to some confusion for the players.

Designed to prevent a perceived advantage to the team going first, the system sees team A take the first kick followed by team B - before team B go again. Team A then get two successive penalties, a little like the tie-break in tennis, and so on until there is a winner.

And the winner, this time, was Arsenal. Arsene Wenger, subject of retirement speculation at the end of the last campaign, will hope the victory will give his team the momentum to become prime contenders for the Premier League title.