Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield in Cardiff, with Mikel Arteta praising his side's desire to defend their title in Enzo Maresca's first significant match in charge of City.
Key facts
- Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
- Riccardo Calafiori scored after 24 seconds, the fastest goal in the competition since 1968.
- Kai Havertz and captain Martin Odegaard added further goals, Odegaard on 48 minutes.
- The defeat was Enzo Maresca's first significant match in charge of Manchester City.
- Arsenal are seeking back-to-back top-flight titles for the first time since 1934-35.
Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal players demonstrated their hunger to defend the Premier League title as they beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, according to the Guardian. The victory came at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff in Enzo Maresca’s first significant match in charge of City.
Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the top-flight title last season and are now seeking to win back-to-back league titles for the first time since the 1934-35 season. Arteta was delighted by his champions, describing the result as ‘winning the first trophy’ and praising the standard set by his squad.
Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring after just 24 seconds, the fastest goal in the competition since Bobby Owen’s strike for City in 1968. Kai Havertz then doubled Arsenal’s lead before captain Martin Odegaard completed the scoring on 48 minutes.
The 3-0 defeat represented the joint-heaviest loss for a City manager in their first game in charge. The most recent to suffer a three-goal opening defeat was Harry Newbould, who lost 4-1 – also to Arsenal – in 1906.
The result was also Maresca’s joint-heaviest defeat as a manager in England. According to the Guardian, Maresca wants his Manchester City signings to arrive soon.
Why it matters
The Community Shield is the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season and offers an early gauge of form. Arsenal's emphatic win signals their intent to defend the title, while the heavy defeat marks a difficult opening for new City manager Enzo Maresca.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score in the Community Shield?
Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Who scored for Arsenal?
Riccardo Calafiori scored after 24 seconds, followed by Kai Havertz, with captain Martin Odegaard completing the scoring on 48 minutes.
Why was the result significant for Enzo Maresca?
It was his first significant match in charge of Manchester City and represented the joint-heaviest loss for a City manager in their first game, as well as Maresca's joint-heaviest defeat as a manager in England.