Man City's Community Shield defeat to Arsenal revealed the scale of the job facing Enzo Maresca on eve of new Premier League season
Enzo Maresca's Man City were exposed in brutal defeat to Arsenal in Community Shield last weekend; spine of side faced issues, particularly in midfield; Watch Man City vs Bournemouth on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Main Event; kick-off 2pm
Sunday 23 August 2026 16:14, UK
Enzo Maresca spoke of his desire to "close the gap" between Manchester City and Arsenal before watching his side suffer a painful 3-0 defeat in the Community Shield last weekend. Perhaps the gaping holes through the spine of his team should be more of an immediate area of focus.
The manner of that loss has raised questions. While the Premier League champions looked self-assured and confident, City were chaotic. The post-Pep Guardiola makeover clearly needs more investment.
Mikel Arteta's side brutally exposed plenty of City shortcomings in Cardiff a week ago. The defensive disorganisation and lack of leadership was one thing, but more worrying still was how vacant the midfield was despite spending £116m on Elliot Anderson this summer.
There is much more work to be done.
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"We have it quite clear what we need to do, and for sure we are going to do something before the transfer window closes," Maresca reassured after losing to Arsenal. A few hours later it was confirmed Rodri would be departing for Barcelona. Another void to fill.
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City's trust in Maresca is such that defeat in the Community Shield won't have caused a huge internal stir. But the period of introspection that has followed begs the question: Does the Italian have the tools he needs to play the system he intends to?
Beyond being schooled by a slicker side in possession, all three of Arsenal's well-worked goals scored from open play, City's lack of imposition should be of major concern. Maresca's XI was packed with creators and scorers but none were effective. They played 200 more passes in the opposition half than Arsenal, yielding one big chance to Arsenal's four. That was missed by Erling Haaland.
Given Nico O'Reilly, Anderson and Haaland only returned from their post-World Cup breaks a few days prior, it's a wonder they were involved at all. Maresca has since conceded that their underperformance contributed to the margin of defeat. But their inclusion, deemed necessary given a lack of options, ranks low on Mareca's list of misgivings.
Much higher on his evolving catalogue of to-dos should be addressing how disconnected City's units were, all playing individually, much to Arsenal's aid. Mateo Kovacic's role as the central rotator did not work. Nor did O'Reilly's progression into midfield to create the 3-2 shape Maresca favours in build-up. Arsenal saw that misstep coming a mile off.
All O'Reilly succeeded in doing was offer space for Noni Madueke to run into. At one point Ben White was even playing like a winger. The talented 21-year-old, for his many strengths - and he has great potential to thrive in a de facto central midfield role - was swamped by the class and nous of Arsenal's enforcers.
He cannot yet be expected to be as positionally imposing as Bernardo Silva or Rodri. Anderson was in no position to help, stuck out on the right.
When the Gunners did arrive with numbers and intent to threaten, City held such a high defensive line it bated one obvious opening after another. Players failed to engage the ball. And so Martin Odegaard's job was made easy. He used the generosity of his time and space to measure a cross for Christos Tzolis to tee up Kai Havertz. Goal.
Maresca drew criticism for a similar tactical failing while in charge at Chelsea. A high line with a passive press is an accident waiting to happen in the Premier League. Bournemouth will be the next beneficiaries if that approach is used again on Sunday; the Cherries are currently on the longest unbeaten run in the division.
City obviously have work to do between now and the close of the transfer window on September 1. Enzo Fernandez remains a target but comes with baggage. He's a player that often splits opinion - booed by sections of his own fanbase last week - despite striking up a good working relationship with Maresca during their time together at Chelsea.
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He cannot be considered a Rodri replacement.
The Argentine does offer two things City's midfield currently lacks, though: goals and guile. Fernandez is a fighter and while that trait sometimes lands him in hot water, it is also necessary to add presence in an area of the pitch that needs it most. City were so lightweight against Arsenal, Arteta had carte blanche control.
City's midfield options have been further weakened by Tijjani Reijnders's move to Al-Qadsiah. Responsibility now sits on relatively young shoulders. Anderson is only 23. Key transfer target Ayyoub Bouaddi just 18. Kovacic, at 32, is perhaps too far the other side of peak. Where is the balance?
A percentage of these problems can of course be attributed to rustiness. It was only game one, and not a consequential game at that. Haaland will get sharper. Anderson will learn how to better anchor midfield with some help. And the misshapen back four will iron out with work on the training pitch. A better understanding of pressing distances in this system needs time.
City are not required to play Arsenal every week, remember.
Sunday will have revealed plenty of uncomfortable truths for Maresca, not least how the gap to Arsenal appears to be widening rather than narrowing. He has three-and-a-half months' worth of soul-searching to do before their next meeting in late November.
But he should also take comfort in the timing of such a revealing performance. Perhaps it will act as a blessing in disguise. Perhaps it will inform and guide this period of evolution away from Guardiola's rule. And give the decision-makers at the club food for thought. City's squad is incomplete, and it's never been wise to rebuild on the fly late in the window.
But needs must.
Watch Manchester City vs Bournemouth live on Sky Sports Main Event on Sunday; kick-off 2pm
