<\/p>\n
Arsenal powered to a 3-0 win against Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday (Monday AEST), delivering a swaggering statement of intent ahead of their Premier League title defence.<\/p>\n
Mikel Arteta\u2019s side used the annual curtain raiser to the English top-flight season as an opportunity to prove their long-awaited title triumph has done nothing to sate their appetite for success.<\/p>\n
The Gunners took just 24 seconds to show new City boss Enzo Maresca the standard required to keep up with the champions.<\/p>\n
Riccardo Calafiori\u2019s quick-fire opening goal was followed by a clinical Kai Havertz header before half time.<\/p>\n
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Arsenal overwhelmed sloppy City with their trademark intensity and Martin Odegaard netted after the interval to cap a resounding victory.<\/p>\n And worse was to come for Maresca, with news breaking shortly after kick-off that after weeks of speculation, star midfielder Rodri will get his wish after City agreed to terms with Barcelona on a blockbuster transfer.<\/p>\n A reported whopping $125 million (\u00a365.4 million) transfer sees the Spanish World Cup-winning captain and Golden Ball recipient, who missed City\u2019s Community Shield loss after undergoing back surgery, return home.<\/p>\n The deal ends intense negotiations between the two powerhouses, after City initially knocked back a pair of early bids from Barcelona, who overtook arch rivals Real Madrid as favourites for the 2024 Ballon d\u2019Or winner.<\/p>\n The club was desperate for him to remain, but honoured their declaration that they wouldn\u2019t stand in his way if he sought a transfer, releasing him from the final year of his contract.<\/p>\n He has signed a four-year deal with Barca.<\/p>\n The transfer makes Maresca\u2019s task of closing the mounting gap to the Gunners even more challenging.<\/p>\n When asked about the star midfielder\u2019s departure after the match, he answered: \u201cAll teams need a player like Rodri\u201d.<\/p>\n The glamour friendly at Cardiff\u2019s Principality Stadium also allowed Arteta to parade Arsenal\u2019s close-season recruits.<\/p>\n Bruno Guimaraes, signed from Newcastle for \u00a375 million, slotted into midfield with ease, while Christos Tzolis, lured from Club Brugge for \u00a334 million, gave a lively display including two assists.<\/p>\n The north Londoners will start a campaign as champions for the first time since the 2004-05 season.<\/p>\n Already installed as favourites to win their first successive English titles since the 1930s, Arsenal look primed for a sustained spell as the Premier League\u2019s pre-eminent force.<\/p>\n Their vibrant performance was the perfect warm-up before promoted Coventry visit the Emirates Stadium for the opening game of the Premier League season on August 21.<\/p>\n It was a dispiriting wake-up call for Maresca, who will have noted how much more dynamic and cohesive Arsenal looked compared to his spluttering team.<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola won 20 trophies in a glorious decade in Manchester, including the FA Cup and League Cup in his farewell season, but City haven\u2019t won the title since 2024 and finished seven points behind Arsenal in second place last term.<\/p>\n Hand-picked to succeed Guardiola after quitting Chelsea in January following a turbulent reign lasting less than two seasons, Maresca now knows it will take a huge effort to close the gap on Arsenal, starting with City\u2019s opener at home to Bournemouth on August 23.<\/p>\n Arteta believes his players are still \u201chungry\u201d for trophies, with their painful Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in May providing motivation for this season.<\/p>\n The Gunners took less than a minute to underline Arteta\u2019s point with a beautifully crafted opener.<\/p>\n Myles Lewis-Skelly featured in Arsenal\u2019s midfield despite being linked to Chelsea and Manchester United and the teenager showed why he is in demand with a deft pass that split the City defence.<\/p>\n Calafiori surged onto Lewis-Skelly\u2019s ball, evading City\u2019s woeful marking to slot a composed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma from 12 yards.<\/p>\n The left-back\u2019s goal was the quickest in the Community Shield since 1968 and rampant Arsenal struck again in the 27th minute.<\/p>\n