Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield in Cardiff, with goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. The result exposed significant weaknesses in City's defence, midfield and attack, and highlighted a stark contrast in hunger and fight between the two sides.
Dominant Arsenal display
Calafiori opened the scoring in the first minute, slotting past Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range. Havertz doubled the lead after half an hour, taking advantage of more poor defending, and Odegaard added a third shortly after the break.
Arsenal fans in Cardiff were still celebrating their league title and could not believe what they were seeing. After losing their last two meetings with City, they were doing the Poznan before half-time as Mikel Arteta's side overwhelmed their opponents.
City's mitigating factors
City could point to rustiness from Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki, who have been back at the club for less than a week. Only Haaland has previous experience of working with manager Enzo Maresca, and the Blues are expected to improve as the squad settles.
However, the more concerning takeaway for City was Arsenal's attitude. When Jeremy Doku raced through on goal in the first half with City 1-0 down, Gabriel cleared the ball for a corner and celebrated as if he had just stopped a goal in a Premier League decider. Gabriel and Calafiori also tried to win penalties with theatrical falls.
Pressure on both sides
City may find it hard after Pep Guardiola, but there is arguably more pressure on Arsenal, given how much harder it is to retain the league after winning it. Every team wants to dethrone the champions each week, and Arsenal will need to be even better physically and mentally to repeat as champions.
The 3-0 win will please the Gunners, but the most beneficial aspect was seeing the hunger and fight in the players, which looked a cut above anything City showed. City need not just a squad with the ability to win the league, but players desperate to go to war for Maresca in every minute of every game.
Transfer window implications
The lack of fight in Cardiff is not a catastrophe for Maresca and sporting director Hugo Viana, but it should sharpen minds with a few weeks left of the transfer window. Those who remain in the squad need to show that fight, and more arrivals are needed who already have it.
City fans are proud that their team fights to the end. This one has to show they can fight from the start.
