A convincing performance at Wembley saw FA Cup holders Arsenal hand Premier League champions Manchester City a 3-0 defeat to win the FA Community Shield for the 13th time.

First half goals from midfielders Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey as well as a long range effort from substitute Olivier Giroud in the second half gave Arsène Wenger’s men a resounding victory over Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

Both sides were missing a number of first team regulars in the match that serves as the curtain raiser to the English football season, with German trio Mesut Özil, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker missing for Arsenal while Sergio Agüero, Fernandinho, Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart were not in the City squad and David Silva started on the bench.

On the otherhand, Willy Caballero was handed his competitive debut in goal for Man. City while Alexis Sanchez and Calum Chambers made their debuts for Arsenal, with Yaya Sanogo getting the nod in the starting 11 ahead of Giroud.

The match also witnessed the debut of the vanishing spray in English football following its successful deployment during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this year.

Arsenal began the match slightly brighter and were duly rewarded midway through the first half when Cazorla opened the scoring with a low shot past debutant goalkeeper Willy Caballero.

Welsh midfielder Ramsey then doubled the Gunners’ lead three minutes before half-time, showing nifty technique in scoring his 17th goal in his last 35 matches for Arsenal.

Stevan Jovetic came close to pulling one back for City seven minutes into the second half but his header was kept out by Wojciech Szczesny with the help of the post.

And though Wenger made three half-time changes, the goalscoring momentum remained with the north Londoners as Giroud broke free from his marker before scoring with a looping effort from 25 yards out just after the hour mark.

A shellshocked City side then began to assert themselves on the match in search of at least a goal but Arsenal held on for a win which would serve as a statement of intent for the coming Premier League season kicking off next weekend.

Speaking after the match, the Arsenal manager said ”Today was good preparation, it was important to win today and now we focus on a very different game next week.”

The Frenchman added that ”It was important for our confidence to win the game, we also had a quality performance.”

City will pay St. James’ Park a visit to face Newcastle United in their opening Premier League match next Sunday while Arsenal will host fellow Londoners Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Saturday.