Arsenal are set to play Man City in the 2023 Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday, 6th August. The Gunners qualified for the traditional curtain raiser by finishing second in the league with City, of course, winning both the league and FA Cup as part of their incredible treble. This clash, formerly known as the Charity Shield, is not usually the most competitive fixture and is often just used as a final pre-season friendly before the league gets underway a week later.
However, it does offer clubs the chance to land some early silverware and also, perhaps, strike a psychological blow before the battle really commences. As one of the biggest and most successful clubs in England, especially as measured by league and FA Cup success, the Gunners have played in the Community/Charity Shield many times. But, how often have they won it? And, who is the most successful club in the history of this “super cup”?
Arsenal’s Wins in the Community & Charity Shield
The north London giants have been regulars in the Community Shield in recent years, in large part due to the incredible success they have enjoyed in the FA Cup in the 21st century. In total, the Gunners have won the Community Shield (including as the Charity Shield) on 16 occasions! That puts them joint-second, with only Man United having claimed the trophy more often. The table below shows the clubs with at least five wins in the competition.
| Rank | Club | Total Wins (Including Shared) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Man United | 21 |
| Joint 2nd | Arsenal | 16 |
| Joint 2nd | Liverpool | 16 |
| 4th | Everton | 9 |
| 5th | Spurs | 7 |
| 6th | Man City | 6 |
Until relatively recently if the game ended level after 90 minutes the two clubs generally shared the title. If we consider outright wins only, ignoring shared victories, then things look a little different.
- Man United – 17
- Arsenal – 15
- Liverpool – 11
- Everton – 8
- Man City – 6
However we look at the issue though, Arsenal are clearly one of the most successful clubs in the history of this competition. They claimed their first title in 1930, beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. All of their Community Shield appearances can be seen below.
Arsenal’s Community Shield Appearances
As said, the Gunners have won the Community Shield 15 times outright, sharing it once. They have appeared in this fixture 23 times though, prior to the 2023 game with City, and have therefore been runners-up seven times to date.
| Year | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Man City | TBC |
| 2020 | Liverpool | Won 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw |
| 2017 | Chelsea | Won 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw |
| 2015 | Chelsea | Won 1-0 |
| 2014 | Man City | Won 3-0 |
| 2005 | Chelsea | Lost 2-1 |
| 2004 | Man United | Won 3-1 |
| 2003 | Man United | Lost 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw |
| 2002 | Liverpool | Won 1-0 |
| 1999 | Man United | Won 2-1 |
| 1998 | Man United | Won 3-0 |
| 1993 | Man United | Lost 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw |
| 1991 | Spurs | Shared after 0-0 draw |
| 1989 | Liverpool | Lost 1-0 |
| 1979 | Liverpool | Lost 3-1 |
| 1953 | Blackpool | Won 3-1 |
| 1948 | Man United | Won 4-3 |
| 1938 | Preston North End | Won 2-1 |
| 1936 | Sunderland | Lost 2-1 |
| 1935 | Sheffield Wednesday | Lost 1-0 |
| 1934 | Man City | Won 4-0 |
| 1933 | Everton | Won 3-0 |
| 1931 | West Brom | Won 1-0 |
| 1930 | Sheffield Wednesday | Won 2-1 |
Arsenal’s Recent Community Shield Record
The Gunners may not have won the Premier League title since 2004 but mainly due to their sensational FA Cup record over the past 20 years or so they have appeared in the Community Shield nine times this century (including 2023). Of the eight completed matches, they have won six too, so this competition has been kind to them of late. Here are some of their highlights.
2020 – Beat Liverpool 5-4 on Penalties
The Gunners had claimed the 2020 FA Cup final by beating Chelsea, Mikel Arteta’s first honours as a manager with the club, having won the FA Cup twice as a player. Arteta’s second trophy soon followed as the north London side saw off PL champions Liverpool on penalties. The game finished 1-1 after Takumi Minamino’s goal cancelled out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first-half strike. And it was Auba who dispatched the winning spot kick too, with Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster, taking his team’s third penalty, the only player to miss.
2017 – More Spot Kick Joy
Gunners fans were delighted to once again get the better of the Premier League champions and the fact that it was Chelsea made it all the more sweet. The Gunners needed a late equaliser to take it to penalties but Sead Kolasinac did the business with eight minutes left. The shootout was the first to trial the ABBA system of penalties, where teams did not alternate but instead took two in a row (aside from the first two kicks). Different system, same result – a Gunners win on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Arsenal just about deserved the win and they were faultless in the shootout, misses from Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois and Alvaro Morata giving them a 4-1 win.
2015 – Arsenal Beat Chelsea Again
Whilst the Gunners have very much enjoyed this competition in recent times, it has been rather the opposite for Chelsea. The west London club lost in the Community Sheild five times in a row between 2010 and 2018. In 2015 it was again a case of FA Cup winners beating league champions as Arsene Wenger’s men got the better of Jose Mourinho and co. 1-0. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got the only goal of the game after 24 minutes, with their opponents misfiring repeatedly in front of goal.
2014 – City Put to Sword
Two things will give Gunners fans hope ahead of the 2023 clash. First, City have lost this fixture in both 2022 and 2021, to Liverpool and Leicester respectively. Second, the last time the Community Shield was an Arsenal v Man City affair, the Gunners romped to an easy 3-0 win. It was a very different City, managed by Manuel Pellegrini but goals from Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Man of the Match Olivier Giroud meant yet another Community Shield for the Gunners.