Christos Tzolis matches David Beckham's record with two assists as Arsenal crush Man City 3-0 in Community Shield

Christos Tzolis perfectly marked his Arsenal debut as the Gunners claimed the first trophy of the season with a dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield.

The Greece international delivered two assists at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, helping Arsenal ease past their rivals and send out an early statement ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Tzolis joined the club from Club Brugge in a £34 million move earlier this summer after an outstanding season in Belgium, where he scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists. On Sunday he showed exactly why Arsenal signed him.

Early control and clinical finishing

Arsenal took the lead after just 23 seconds when Riccardo Calafiori finished a smart move. The second goal arrived before the half-hour mark. Martin Odegaard swung in a cross, Tzolis nodded the ball back across the six-yard box, and Kai Havertz headed home. Three minutes after the restart Tzolis struck again, sliding a precise pass into Odegaard’s path. The captain produced a clever dummy that left goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on the floor before rolling the ball into the net.

The result gave Arsenal their 18th Community Shield title and a clear psychological edge over City, who were playing their first competitive match under new manager Enzo Maresca.

Historic first in 30 years

By setting up both goals, Christos Tzolis became the first player in 30 years to record two assists in a Community Shield match. The previous player to achieve the feat was David Beckham, who provided two assists for Manchester United against Newcastle United in 1996. Tzolis also became the first Arsenal player to assist two or more goals on his debut since Willian against Fulham in September 2020.

The 24-year-old looked sharp and composed throughout, linking well with teammates and making intelligent decisions in tight spaces. His performance continued a strong pre-season and gave Arsenal fans an early glimpse of the creativity he can bring to the left side of attack.

Mikel Arteta praises smart decision-making

Mikel Arteta was clearly impressed with his new signing after the match.

"He's accommodated into the team, and his level of understanding as a player. I think he makes a lot of decision that other people rush," Arteta said.

"He's very smart, very accurate and again today, in tight spaces, he made the right decisions and he assisted two goals."

Arteta’s comments highlight why the club moved for the Greek winger. After Leandro Trossard’s departure, Arsenal needed a player who could create, finish, and fit into the high-intensity style the manager demands. Tzolis delivered on all fronts in his first competitive outing.

Looking ahead to the Premier League

The win provides the perfect launchpad for Arsenal as they prepare to defend their Premier League title. Next up is the season opener against Coventry City. With new faces such as Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes already settling in, and key players like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka available from the bench, the Gunners head into the campaign with confidence and momentum.

Tzolis’s dream debut will live long in the memory. Matching a record set by David Beckham while helping his new club lift silverware is a rare achievement. Arsenal supporters will hope it is only the beginning of an exciting chapter for the talented Greek forward.