Arteta says Maresca is ‘as good as’ Guardiola before Community Shield

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca as being “as good as” Pep Guardiola before the two sides meet in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The Premier League and FA Cup winners will renew their rivalry in the traditional season curtain-raiser, with both clubs aiming to begin the campaign by lifting silverware.

Arsenal and Manchester City have been involved in several fiercely contested matches over the past two seasons. Sunday’s game adds a fresh dimension to that rivalry, with Maresca having replaced Guardiola, who left Manchester City at the end of last season.

Guardiola’s influence and achievements in Manchester have left a lasting legacy, but Arteta believes Maresca is capable of making an equally significant impact. The Arsenal boss knows the new Manchester City tactician well and expects him to bring a different approach to the club.

“The best version of Arsenal has to be on Sunday. That’s the intention,” said Arteta, as reported by Sky Sports.

“The best performance, the best way to start the season by lifting the first trophy. That’s the way we’ve prepared the season.”

“Now it’s Enzo – who is as good as [Guardiola], because I know him well. He will provide something different to the club.”

Arteta also rejected the idea that the Community Shield should be viewed simply as a pre-season friendly. Arsenal will approach the match as a genuine opportunity to claim a trophy after earning their place by winning the Premier League last season.

“It’s a trophy, one that we can have because we earned last year it from winning the Premier League,” added Arteta. “You can tell how hungry the players are, which is a good sign.”

The Arsenal manager said he had been encouraged by the condition and attitude of his squad during preparation for the new campaign. Most of the players returned earlier than expected, while testing showed they were in strong physical condition.

“I love the way the players have come back, most of them earlier as expected. Really fit, we’ve done all the testing. They all seem in a great condition,” said Arteta.

He added that the squad’s early interactions had strengthened his belief in the group and in the direction of the club.

“The moment they started to look at each other, I said: ‘look at the squad that we have and what we’re building’. There’s a lot of excitement.”

The meeting at Wembley will therefore provide an early test for both teams. Arsenal will seek to turn their preparation and growing confidence into a trophy, while Manchester City begin a new era under Maresca following Guardiola’s departure.