Nightmare Man City start for Maresca - are Arsenal really so far ahead? - BBC
Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, marking a difficult start for new City manager Enzo Maresca. The dominant performance has sparked debate about the current competitive gap between the two Premier League clubs.
Why it matters
The result of a major pre-season match provides early indicators of team form and tactical shifts for the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Manchester City were playing their first competitive game since Pep Guardiola's exit after a 10-year reign
Did Premier League champions Arsenal show just how far ahead of Manchester City they are with their dominant Community Shield win?
Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard helped the Gunners to a 3-0 victory in Cardiff.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was "a bit surprised" by his side's convincing performance, telling TNT Sports that "to play in the manner we did is extremely impressive".
New City manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola over the summer, could say no such thing.
Yet Maresca played down the importance of the result, saying: "It's a defeat that hurts us, but it's just the beginning."
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