Arsenal drew first blood in their annual battle for supremacy with Manchester United when they won the Community Shield 3-1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday.

Second-half strikes by Gilberto, Jose Antonio Reyes and a Mikael Silvestre own goal gave the champions victory over the FA Cup winners in the English season's traditional curtain-raiser.

Although both teams were missing key players, Arsenal deserved their win over a United side with one eye on Wednesday's Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Bucharest.

The Gunners were without the injured Patrick Vieira, Fredrik Ljungberg and Sol Campbell but inspired by Spanish striker Reyes and 17-year-old midfielder Francesc Fabregas they produced an efficient performance.

"Reyes looks outstanding," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters. "He has very quickly become a very important player. He is very brave and every game he looks stronger and stronger."

Wenger admitted the constant speculation about whether Vieira would be joining Real Madrid had affected his preparations for the new season."

"We have been disrupted in our preparation but the situation has not made a difference to team morale," he said.

With the recent heat and humidity replaced by damp, overcast conditions in Cardiff, both sides started with gusto in a first half that somehow remained goalless.

Arsenal forwards Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp were denied by American goalkeeper Tim Howard while Jermaine Pennant wasted the best chance of the half when he side-footed wide of an empty United goal after Henry's shot was saved.

United also showed plenty of attacking intent, with new signing Alan Smith buzzing around to good effect.

BLAZED HIGH

Smith, staking his claims to partner the injured Ruud van Nistelrooy, blazed high over the bar with his best chance on 40 minutes.

The deadlock was broken after 49 minutes when Reyes, who had just shot into the side-netting when it was easier to score, sprinted clear before rolling the ball across for Brazilian midfielder Gilberto to tap in.

Smith endeared himself to the United fans six minutes later when he smashed a 20-metre volley past Lehmann to make it 1-1.

But Arsenal were not to be denied their first silverware of the season, moving back in front on the hour when Reyes, signed in January for around 17 million pounds ($30.98 million) from Sevilla, fired home after Gilberto had scooped a pass across the area.

United knew it was not to be their day in the 79th minute when fullback Ashley Cole's attempted cross cannoned off central defender Silvestre and inside Howard's near post.

Although Arsenal will be happy with the victory they will not celebrate too loudly as only once in the past 10 years have the winners of the curtain-raiser gone on to win the league title at the end of the season.

"It was a good game for us in terms of the tempo," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "And the important thing was to come through without any more injuries.

"Arsenal were the better team, particularly in the second half. When we got to 1-1, I thought we would take control but their second goal came at the right time and killed us off when we were making substitutions."

Both teams begin their English premier league campaigns next Sunday, with Arsenal at Everton and Manchester United, champions eight times in the past 12 seasons, travelling to Chelsea.