Arsenal Rout Man City 3-0 in Community Shield: Who's Really Favourite to Win the 2026/27 Premier League Title?

Arsenal opened their title defence in style, thrashing Manchester City 3-0 in the FA Community Shield at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on August 16, 2026, with Riccardo Calafiori scoring after just 24 seconds before Kai Havertz and man-of-the-match Martin Odegaard added further goals. The result marked a rocky competitive debut for Enzo Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola at City this summer, while Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta now heads into the season without injured defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber. Bookmaker models still install Arsenal as clear favourites at roughly 38% to retain the Premier League, with City second at around 20.5% and Liverpool, now managed by Andoni Iraola after Arne Slot's exit and further unsettled by Mohamed Salah's departure, down at about 9.2%. With three of the traditional "big six" (City, Chelsea under Xabi Alonso, and Liverpool) all appointing new head coaches this summer, the league season kicked off on August 21 with Arsenal hosting newly-promoted Coventry City. The scale of managerial upheaval has pundits split on whether this remains Arsenal's title to lose or the most wide-open title race in years.

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Arsenal remain the clear favourites (roughly 38% title odds) to defend their crown, having just demolished their biggest rival for the trophy 3-0 in the Community Shield. Even with Saliba and Timber sidelined, Arteta's squad depth and that statement Cardiff performance suggest last season's champions are still a level above the chasing pack.

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Manchester City's rebuild under new manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola this summer, makes them the biggest genuine threat despite the Community Shield defeat — bookmakers still price them second at roughly 20.5% to win the title. With Erling Haaland leading the line and a full 38-game campaign to find their rhythm, one bad pre-season-style result shouldn't be read as a true signal.

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This is really anyone's title race — three of the traditional "big six" clubs (Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool) have all installed new head coaches this summer, and Liverpool's Andoni Iraola is starting his tenure without Mohamed Salah after his exit. With so much upheaval across the league's elite before a ball has even been kicked in the league proper, picking a runaway favourite in August is premature.

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