Arsenal outclass City to lay down early marker

Arsenal outclassed Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley to win the first silverware of the new season and lay down a marker to their Premier League rivals.

The Gunners were without their World Cup-winning trio of Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski but it didn't show as they exerted their superiority from the very beginning, and led through Santi Cazorla, whose neat finish beat Willy Caballero, who started ahead of Joe Hart in the City goal, from 18 yards.

Arsenal doubled their lead before the break through Aaron Ramsey, who drilled in after a neat touch after Sanogo's driving run and assured pass.

City looked brighter after the half time introduction of David Silva and came closest to scoring when Stevan Jovetic struck the post with a far post header.

But that's the closest the champions got to scoring and Olivier Giroud wrapped up the win on the hour in emphatic style, scoring the goal of the game with a sumptuous strike from 25 yards.

21' GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City - Cazorla finds the bottom corner with a neat finish from the edge of the box to give Arsenal the lead.

22' ARSENAL CHANCE! Almost 2-0 to Arsenal! Sanogo misses the target after Cazorla slipped in a perfectly-weighted pass through the City back line and the young striker should really have scored.

42' GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City - Ramsey doubles Arsenal's lead with a superb touch and finish after Sanogo created the chance with a mazy run.

52' OFF THE POST! Jovetic hits the post! The striker leaps high to head the ball against the outside of the left hand post - that's the closest City have come to scoring today.

60' GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City - Giroud rounds off the win with a cracking strike from 25 yards, which gave Caballero no chance.

This is only the second time Man City have shipped three or more goals in any of their last 34 games in all competitions.

Aaron Ramsey has had a hand in 26 goals in 35 competitive appearances for Arsenal since the start of last season (17 goals, nine assists)

Santi Cazorla has netted two goals in his last two games for Arsenal (both at Wembley) after failing to net in his previous 19.

Can Arsenal win the league? It's always a question that, on paper, provides a clear answer of yes - but the wheels always seem to come off Arsenal's campaign. The additions of Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers seem like shrewd Wenger purchases and could be enough to trouble the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea in the race for the Premier League.

Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) - Cazorla and Chambers ran him close but Ramsey was everywhere for Arsenal and took his goal very well. The fact that he's had a hand in 26 goals in 35 competitive appearances for Arsenal since the start of last season shows his value to this team.

ARSENAL: Szczesny 7, Debuchy 7, Gibbs 6, Koscielny, 7, Chambers 8, Sanchez 7, Ramsey 8, Wilshere 7, Arteta 6, Cazorla 8, Sanogo 7. Subs: Monreal 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Giroud 7, Flamini 6, Rosicky 6, Campbell N/A.

MANCHESTER CITY: Caballero 5, Kolarov 7, Boyata 6, Nastastic 6, Clichy 6, Navas 5, Fernando 5, Toure 6, Dzeko 6, Jovetic 7. Subs: Richards 6, Zuculini 6, Milner 6, Silva 7, Sinclair N/A