Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 to win Community Shield and spoil Enzo Maresca’s debut

Arsenal lifted the Community Shield after beating Manchester City 3-0 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, handing new City manager Enzo Maresca a heavy defeat in his first match in charge.

Mikel Arteta’s side made the ideal start, taking the lead after only 23 seconds. Riccardo Calafiori was played through on goal and finished the opportunity to put Arsenal ahead before Manchester City had time to settle.

The Premier League champions then extended their advantage when Kai Havertz headed past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Manchester City goalkeeper was unable to keep out the effort, leaving Arsenal in control before half-time.

Arsenal’s performance was marked by greater sharpness and fitness, with Arteta’s team looking more prepared for the contest than Maresca’s side. The result gave Arsenal an emphatic victory in the traditional meeting between the previous Premier League champions and FA Cup winners.

Manchester City struggled to produce a sustained attacking response, although Phil Foden and Erling Haaland both tested David Raya. The Arsenal goalkeeper dealt with those attempts and remained unbeaten, securing a clean sheet for his side.

Arsenal added a third goal three minutes after the interval. New signing Christos Tzolis supplied his second assist of the match by setting up captain Martin Odegaard, who completed the scoring.

The goal underlined Arsenal’s dominance and gave them a three-goal cushion early in the second half. Manchester City were unable to find a way back into the game, despite occasional flashes of their attacking threat.

For Maresca, the match ended in a resounding defeat on his first appearance as City boss. Arsenal, meanwhile, began the campaign by claiming silverware and producing a convincing display against the Premier League champions.

The Community Shield victory was secured without Arsenal conceding, as Raya stood firm whenever City created openings. Foden and Haaland represented Manchester City’s clearest threats, but neither could beat the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Arsenal’s early goals proved decisive. Calafiori’s strike came inside the opening minute, Havertz’s header doubled the advantage and Odegaard’s finish completed a 3-0 scoreline shortly after the restart.

The result means Arteta’s team leave Cardiff with the Community Shield, while Maresca’s first game in charge of Manchester City ends with his side beaten by three goals.