City went down 3-0 to Arsenal in the 2026 Community Shield.
Quickfire goals at the start of each half from Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard sandwiched by a Kai Havertz header meant defeat for Enzo Maresca’s men here at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in the seasonal curtain-raiser.
Focus will now turn to the start of the Premier League campaign which begins for City next Sunday with AFC Bournemouth the visitors to the Etihad for a 14:00 (UK) kick-off.
THE GAME IN 250 WORDS
It couldn’t have been a worse start for City with Riccardo Calafiori slipped through by Myles Lewis-Skelly inside the first minute with the Italian firing past his countryman Gianluigi Donnarumma from close-range.
The Blues didn’t let that 23rd second setback derail them though and Enzo Maresca’s burgeoning side gave as good as they got in the opening exchanges with both teams attacking at will.
Erling Haaland couldn’t quite meet Elliot Anderson’s whipped cross from the right while Phil Foden saw a curling long ranger well smothered by David Raya in the opposition goal.
But the Gunners got a second as the half hour mark approached with Kai Havertz heading home from six yards out.
Martin Odegaard swung in a cross from the right and Christos Tzolis nodded it into the path of the German who made no mistake.
Haaland had a good chance to reduce the deficit minutes later when played in by Jérémy Doku but the talismanic Norwegian ace fired high and handsome when well placed.
With half-time fast approaching, two more good chances arrived for Maresca’s men as they looked to get back into the game but Haaland had his close-range drilled shot saved by Raya while Doku – charging into the box at top speed – saw his effort deflected wide via Ben White.
Just shy of the break, White then teed up goalscorer Calafiori who blasted an effort over Donnarumma’s bar while Joško Gvardiol cleared off his line as Mikel Arteta’s looked to extend their lead before the interval.
Much like the first half, it was a quickfire goal for Arsenal at the start of the second with captain Martin Odegaard calmy slotting past Donnarumma.
The game was punctuated by a flurry of changes for both teams as the half continued with Maresca clearly managing the minutes of those who’ve only just returned from their rest and recovery spell of downtime after the World Cup.
Donnarumma was called into action when he raced out to claw away the ball, with Bukayo Saka looking to nick it, round the keeper and add extra gloss to the Gunners lead while at the other end, Kovačić fired goalwards from 25 yards out only to see Raya get down to push the ball out and away from danger.
It was that man, Raya, who denied City again late on when substitute Rayan Cherki made a weaving run before sliding in Antoine Semenyo, the Ghana international watching on as the Spaniard got down to deny him.
That was all she wrote as the game clicked down to full-time.
TEAMS
ARSENAL XI: Raya, White, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori (Hincapie 60), Lewis-Skelly (Zubimendi 75’), Guimaraes (Rice 46’), Odegaard (C) (Eze 84’), Madueke (Saka 60), Tzolis, Havertz (Gyokeres 75’)
Subs: Kepa, Merino, Dowman
CITY XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias (C), Gvardiol, O’Reilly (Guéhi 54’), Kovačić (Nico 79’), Anderson (Lewis 60), Semenyo, Foden (Cherki 60), Doku (Grealish 46’), Haaland (Marmoush 53’)
Subs: Rulli, Aït-Nouri, Reis
MANAGER VERDICT
Click back here shortly for the views of boss Enzo Maresca.
PLAYER REACTION
You’ll be able to read the verdict of a first team player here shortly.
WHAT IT MEANS
All eyes now turn to the start of the Premier League season which is tantalisingly close.
City face AFC Bournemouth at the Etihad next Sunday with a 14:00 (UK) kick-off.
It’s a battle of new bosses with Enzo Maresca having replaced Pep Guardiola and Marco Rose, formerly of RB Leipzig, coming in at the Cherries for Andoni Iraola who is now in charge of Liverpool.
WHAT NEXT
City face AFC Bournemouth at the Etihad next Sunday.
The 14:00 (UK) kick-off marks the start of our 2026/27 Premier League season.
Premier League 2026/27 home tickets now on sale
General admission tickets for Manchester City’s home 2026/27 Premier League fixtures are now on sale to Premium, Matchday and Junior Members.
Season Ticket Members, meanwhile, are now also able to purchase additional tickets for selected games.
Premier League match-by-match ticket prices for junior and adult Matchday Members have been retained at the same rate for a third consecutive season.
It promises to be another thrilling campaign for the Blues as we enter a new era under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, who takes over from Pep Guardiola in the hotseat.
Make sure you secure your spot at the Etihad Stadium for our Premier League fixtures now!