Arsenal never got out of first gear to defeat a tame Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday, with big signing Elliot Anderson notably neutralised over the course of the encounter.
Anderson couldn’t find any moments of creativity or pockets of space to cause any damage to an unchallenged Arsenal defensive line.
Man City now have a Rodri-shaped hole to replace in the middle of the park, with the Spaniard’s move to Barcelona confirmed.
Early doors for Man City
Man City boss Enzo Maresca, however, sees his side’s timid performance as just the beginning, rather than negative signs for what’s to come.
“A big part of the game is in the first goal we concede,” Maresca told Sky Sports.
“After the reaction is good. Before they score the second goal we had three or four chances to score. Then with the second goal it became more difficult.
“In general I’m always concerned – even when we win games! We just started.
“This is the beginning. We have many things to do better. Now we try to reset, analyse the game and think from Tuesday about the next game.
“The first goal we concede I didn’t like. Then the second one there was no pressure on the ball. I don’t know if it’s for physical condition.
“We had many players – probably the club with more players at the World Cup.”
High level of play and desire
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was particularly pleased with his side’s standard of play and the desire shown, just a week out from the beginning of the new Premier League season.
“A really good performance so early in the season,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
“To play at that level and to show the desire that we showed and their reaction. I was really impressed and I said to them that I really enjoyed watching them play.
“I’m a bit surprised because in pre-season, we had three different groups.
“Eight or nine arrived just five days ago to get tested, they trained two days and to play in that manner is extremely impressive.
“It tells you how much those players want it, the level of desire we have and the quality we have.”
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