Horror stats reveals Man City’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in Community Shield was a total shocker for new boss Enzo Maresca

ENZO MARESCA suffered a horror first competitive game in charge of Man City as his side were thrashed 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield. The Italian has a massive task in front of him after replacing legendary mentor Pep Guardiola following his trophy-laden ten-year spell. Man City boss Enzo Maresca suffered a woeful first game in charge after his side lost 3-0 to Arsenal Credit: PA And he was handed a huge reality check in Cardiff as City were taken apart by rivals Arsenal. City were stunned early doors as Riccardo Calafiori raced in to slot home the opener in the first 24 SECONDS. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Kai Havertz then nodded home a second before the break and Martin Odegaard made it three just after the interval. It was City’s heaviest defeat since a 4-0 home loss to Tottenham in November 2024. And it was their worst defeat to Arsenal since a 3-0 loss in the 2014 Community Shield. That was back when Manuel Pellegrini was City boss and Arsene Wenger was in charge of the Gunners. That game 12 years ago was also the last time that any side lost by three goals or more in a Community Shield game. There might be some good omens in the latest result, however. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK It was City’s heaviest defeat in a Community Shield since the same score vs Arsenal in 2014 Credit: Getty The last time Man City conceded three in a Community Shield (a 3-1 loss vs Liverpool in 2022) they went on to win the treble that season. It’s only the second time Maresca has lost a game by three goals or more in English football after Chelsea‘s 3-0 home loss to Brighton in February 2025. And it’s the joint-heaviest defeat for a Man City boss in their first game. Harry Newbould lost 4-1 in 1906 – also to Arsenal – and is the only previous City boss to lose by such a score in his first match. Arsenal ran riot as Martin Odegaard made it three just after half time Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! Maresca will have concerns over City’s ability to keep pace with Arsenal this season after the Gunners beat them to the title by seven points last season. City have now won just two of their last nine matches against Arsenal in all competitions, including four draws and three losses. Maresca admitted there were “many things we need to do better” ahead of their 2026-27 opener against Bournemouth next week. He said: “After the first one I was quite happy because we didn’t concede nothing [again], and we created three or four chances to draw the game but unfortunately we conceded the second one, and there is a mistake there but it’s just the beginning. “Then from next Sunday we start the Premier League and then the focus has to be about that.” “We have many things to work [on]. The season’s just started so there are many things we need to do better but even when we win games there are things we need to do better.” Comment now