Footage of two Arsenal players’ actions after their 2026 Community Shield triumph has emerged and sparked a big reaction from supporters online.

Arsenal were crowned Community Shield winners on Sunday afternoon after they dismantled Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The Gunners came racing out of the blocks and took the lead inside the opening 30 seconds through Riccardo Calafiori.

Mikel Arteta’s side doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Kai Havertz’s header squeaked past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Arsenal put the result beyond all doubt just after the half-time break courtesy of Martin Odegaard’s well-taken strike. There were no further goals as Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory.

Two Arsenal Players Watch On As Teammates Celebrate

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Arsenal’s players and staff were delighted with their victory, and they jubilantly celebrated with the trophy after the final whistle. However, two players did not join in during the trophy lift.

Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri both played no part in Wales after being excluded from the squad. Both players have been linked with moves away during the summer.

It is believed that the club are trying to get rid of Martinelli, while Nwaneri, who made Arsenal history in 2022 when he became their youngest-ever player, has also been tipped to leave.

Arsenal fans are now convinced that the two players will depart north London this summer after footage showed them not joining in during the trophy celebrations.

As Arsenal’s players and staff were on the podium, Martinelli and Nwaneri kept their distance and watched on from the sidelines. They only joined the celebrations after being called over by Gabriel Magalhães.

The footage has sparked a big reaction from Arsenal supporters.

One fan said: ‘It’s very sad to watch this’, while another commented: ‘This is heartbreaking’. A third wrote: ‘This is not pleasant to see’, while a fourth stated: ‘This hurts my soul. The biggest reminder that football is a business’.

A fifth wrote: ‘Nah this is sad… without Ethan we would’ve finished 5th the season before last and Martinelli was scoring crucial goals to help get us to the Champions League final.’

Mikel Arteta Calls For Rule Change

REUTERS/Chris Radburn

Teams are only allowed to name substitutes per match. Speaking after the match, Arteta slammed the rule and said teams should be able to name more players on their bench. He said:

Arsenal’s attention now turns to retaining their Premier League trophy. Their campaign gets underway on Friday evening when they welcome newly-promoted Coventry City to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta has claimed he’s been ‘fighting with the Premier League‘ to make a significant rule change following Arsenal’s win against Manchester City in the Community Shield.

The English champions ran out comfortable winners as goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard sealed a 3-0 victory at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The north Londoners were never in trouble after taking a first-minute lead, and look set to mount another title challenge.

Arteta had the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres to call upon from his substitute bench, while the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri didn’t even make the matchday squad.

Mikel Arteta Wants the Premier League to Make Change

via Reuters

Despite the impressive squad depth displayed by the Gunners on Sunday afternoon, Arteta isn’t happy he has to leave some talented players out altogether. Martinelli, Jesus and Nwaneri have all been linked with moves away from the club this summer.

But Arteta explained that he would have liked to include the trio, as they all ‘deserve’ a place on the bench at least. “Really sad to not have their availability,” he said in his post-match press conference.

The Spanish coach claimed to have been fighting with lawmakers in the English top flight to allow more players in the matchday squad. Calling for a change to the current guidelines, which allow nine substitutes per team, he said:

It’s not the first time he’s mentioned the same regulation, as Arteta pleaded with the Premier League to increase matchday squads from 20 players to 23 in January.

REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Martinelli has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, but the Brazilian winger confirmed he wasn’t interested in pursuing a move to Turkey earlier this week. Despite that stance, a transfer away from the Emirates doesn’t appear to be off the cards following his Community Shield snub.

Jesus, meanwhile, is behind Havertz and Gyokeres in the pecking order. The former Manchester City forward is among the top earners at the club, meaning a move away could suit all parties. Fabrizio Romano confirmed Nwaneri is set to leave Arsenal too, after spending part of last season on loan at Marseille.

Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield and one of Mikel Arteta’s men put in a superb performance that will surely convince the higher-ups to keep him.

A dominant display from the Gunners saw them ease to victory at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Riccardo Calafiori gave the Premier League champions the lead in the very first minute with a tidy finish.

Kai Havertz added a second 27 minutes later, before Martin Odegaard came up with a moment of brilliance to make it three-nil in the 48th minute. Arteta’s side controlled proceedings and toyed with a lackluster City side playing their first competitive game since Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola.

As is often the case with the Community Shield, managers give opportunities to players not yet considered guaranteed starters before the season begins. Arteta and his bosses were reminded of just how talented one of their exit-linked stars is.

Arsenal 3-0 Man City: Lewis-Skelly Shut Down Exit Talk

Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Arteta started new signing Bruno Guimaraes in a midfield three alongside Odegaard and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The latter’s future has been uncertain in recent weeks amid reports claiming he has been offered to Manchester United and Chelsea.

Lewis-Skelly had looked set to follow in Bukayo Saka’s footsteps and be the next superstar to emerge from the club’s Hale End academy. But he found game time hard to come by last season, with Arteta preferring Calafiori at left-back.

The 19-year-old is thought to want to stay at the Emirates and fight for his place in Arteta’s team. Judging from today’s showing, he is more than up for the fight, putting in a marvelous performance that makes the Gunners’ apparent stance over potentially selling him extremely confusing.

Lewis-Skelly, whom Declan Rice called ‘very special’, set up Calafiori for the opener, putting the Italian through on goal with a clever pass after fighting off pressure from defenders. That was just the start of a perfect response to rumors over a summer exit, showing his manager and the hierarchy why he should be going nowhere.

Midfield Myles is The Way Forward

Lewis-Skelly might not reclaim the left-back starting berth from Calafiori, but he should be considered for a starting role in Arteta’s midfield. His press resistance, along with his spatial awareness, is hugely effective, and he drifts into pockets before picking out a teammate, as he did assisting the opener.

The England international could shine in a midfield three alongside Guimaraes and Rice. All three possess different profiles that could make for a well-balanced unit.

Guimaraes operates more as the deep playmaker, controlling the tempo and using his creativity. Rice is the engine room, working box-to-box and helping on the defensive side aswell as making late runs into the box.

Jamie Carragher is one of many who can’t understand why Lewis-Skelly could be sold. He responded to his assist with a post on X:

There’s certainly a lot for Arsenal fans to like about their team’s performance in their win over City. Lewis-Skelly’s showing will have delighted them and potentially ensured his name is no longer mentioned in the rumour mill.