Five talking points as Arsenal beat Liverpool on pens to win Community Shield

Arsenal won their second consecutive domestic trophy with a penalty shootout Community Shield victory over Liverpool.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winning penalty having opened the scoring for Arsenal early on before Takumi Minamino levelled things up on 73 minutes.

The Japanese international appeared from the bench and calmly slotted home after a bit of pinball in the box.

Extra-time was bypassed and Reds youngster Rhian Brewster, who was bought on with second to spare, missed the decisive spot kick with his effort smacking the bar.

The season’s curtain raiser got underway just 34 days after the season drew to a close and four weeks after Arsenal lifted the FA Cup.

Here are five talking points from Arsenal’s success at Wembley.

Minamino stakes his case

Minamino has not had the start to life at Anfield he would’ve hoped for but he certainly went about changing it the right way.

The January signing started on the bench having failed to establish himself under Jurgen Klopp thus far.

His case is perhaps hindered – rather than enhanced – by his versatility but when Liverpool needed a goal he came up with the goods.

The front three of Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino had a quieter afternoon than usual.

But Minamino broke his goal duck and will have done his chances of starting the season opener no harm.

Arteta’s positive notes

Optimism under the Spaniard continues to grow and that will only continue after their Wembley showing.

The contest was a relatively unspectacular affair and those are the types of games that Arsenal rarely won in recent times.

But they led for long periods and finished the better against a Liverpool side who had almost all of their big hitters on the pitch.

Arteta’s Arsenal showed plenty of promise last season and with new additions and more time to embed his ideas the north Londoners could be set for a tilt at Champions League football.

Saliba’s slow process

William Saliba was signed 12 months ago but the Arsenal fans were forced to wait to see their £27m signing.

You’d have thought, given the Gunners’ defensive issues, that the highly-rated defender would be thrown straight in.

But even Rob Holding, who is close to a loan move away, was selected ahead of Saliba.

He made his debut recently against MK Dons but Arteta is clearly going to ease the Frenchman into things rather than throwing him in at the deep end.

His mentor Pep Guardiola was always cautious about playing new signings from day one, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised.

Williams given harsh lesson

Neco Williams’ progress probably went unnoticed last season given how fellow youngster Curtis Jones performed.

But the young fullback was certainly best of the rest and his performances have earned him a Wales call-up.

He replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is struggling with a knock, in the starting XI but was given one of the hardest possible tests.

Williams was tasked with stopping Aubameyang who started on the left for Arsenal.

The forward was afforded too much room by the Liverpool youngster for his goal and generally got the better of him.

Williams will be better for the experience, but one he won’t want to relive anytime soon.

Lightening to strike twice?

Aubameyang opened the scoring in the 12th minute of the Community Shield in a match that was settled by a penalty shootout.

One guess at how long it took Raheem Sterling to open the scoring against Liverpool in last season’s Community Shield – 12 mintes.

Liverpool went on to lose on penalties against Manchester City before going on to win the title.

Winning the season’s curtain raiser is rarely a gauge of what lies ahead and the Anfield faithful will have no issues if lightening striking twice also means they retain their Premier League title.