Arsenal Win Community Shield

Seeing the lineup only lit my skin up more, every particle inside me furious at the selection of Noni Madueke ahead of Max Dowman. This more or less bore out on the pitch. Madueke's decision making in the final third is erratic, and while he stretches play excellently, his lapses in judgement put him in direct contrast with the rest of the team. There are still moments where I look at the athlete and understand the great potential he possesses. But then I remember the talent, and superior current ability, of the kid—Max—who he is keeping out of the side. It didn't matter.

When Martin Odegaard looks like Luka Modric, effortlessly playing an advanced midfield role while also dictating play from the defensive and middle thirds, Arsenal become unstoppable. Utterly press-resistant and looking back to complete physical fitness, the most notable change in the Norwegian was his speed of play. The more confident and talented the player, the quicker they make decisions. Odegaard, for two plus seasons, has dithered in possession to the detriment of the side's attacking edge. Against City, he was quite perfect. Sprezzaturra.

Nearly everything was done one and two touch. Mateo Kovacic and Elliot Anderson could get nowhere near him. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Bruno Guimaraes were also solid; progressive and aggressive, willing receivers. It looked like a Paris Saint-Germain midfield.

The back 5 looked athletic and sharp. David Raya made a few good saves as well as an absolutely stunning, 50 yard weak-foot laser through the middle of the pitch under the high-press to set Arsenal on an immediate counter. Gabriel looked confident and fit, with his partner Cristhian Mosquera flashing elite recovery speed for the position. This duo should be at the level to allow Arsenal to survive without William Saliba, handling this more tepid version of Erling Haaland, who usually makes his bones scoring hat-trick after hat-trick in the seasons opening matches.

Ben White also looked more himself, comfortably moving around the pitch and showing off elite combination play and skill for a defender. Elite, that is, until you compare him to Riccardo Calafiori, who scored the opening goal of the match. Calafiori's movement in the middle and final thirds is unpredictable. Combining that with his physicality and technique, and you have one of the most terrifying and complete attackers on the planet.

The group needs another defender—links to Ezri Konsa and Jarrel Quansah make sense as both can theoretically cover at right back. Both also seem redundant with Mosquera. A full-time full-back would still be my preferred move. Michael Kayode (Brentford), Givairo Read (Feyenoord), Wilfried Singo (Galatasaray) would all make sense.

A left back is also logical. In the wake of a Calafiori injury, which happens multiple times a season, the Gabriel/Hincapie LHS partnership will cause Arsenal problems against mid and low blocks, as well as against the high press. Relying on it again this season may not be fatal in the league, but it is a real limitation in Arsenal's on-ball ability.

The difference between Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres is monumental. With the German, Arsenal have a fluid target man. With the Swede, Arsenal have a great penalty taker. Only starting seven games last season in the league due to injury, a familiar refrain rings about my brain regarding Havertz: like a new signing. Same goes for Bukayo Saka, who looked strong as ever while also showing off a regained burst. If Arsenal fail to bring in a star forward, Saka and Havertz will have to return to their form and fitness of seasons previous.

Christos Tzolis had a very good debut. He was clean in ball-retention and his decision making in the final third was calm. The Greek seems a very reasonable replacement for Leandro Trossard.

If Gabriel Martinelli, who along with Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri did not make the bench, stays, I believe in his ability to win back the LW role from Tzolis. The Brazilian has so much experience, and though he struggled mightily in the Premier League, his contributions in Europe were crucial in the run to the Final. Playing with Viktor Gyokeres also accentuated many of his weaknesses. A sale for the Brazilians, and ideally a loan for Nwaneri, seems the best course of action for club and player. Both could still contribute.

Manchester City, on the other hand, look primed for further regression.

Enzo Maresca's behavior with Chelsea last season lacked maturity. Why he'd want to ditch such a project, considering the faith the club put in him after a single season at Leicester in the Championship, raises questions about his social-emotional stability. His unprofessional outbursts in press conferences were petty and vindictive and not befitting of a top manager. Especially one who has proven so little. Winning the Club World Cup, a trophy nobody cares about, very likely gave the Italian a deadly ego attack.

In his essence, Maresca represents a faux-continuity, and I would have figured City's thinking too advanced to fall into such an 'easy' option. There is no world where his relationships with the remaining players, guys he worked with over three years ago, will immediately translate. These are also men used to being coached by Pep Guardiola. How they respond to someone with such a steep drop-off in credentials will be intriguing.

Within the club, there is a clear leadership vacuum. Ruben Dias is a big personality, but no longer a top performer. Phil Foden is the team's longest serving member, but he is not a galvanizer of spirit. The question becomes: can Erling Haaland lead a squad as well as he leads the line? It will be a massive test for the already all-time great City #9, who has all the characteristics to be a Leader of Men. But one, or two, are not enough. To survive you need a squad full of them.

Without the stability and veteran leadership from players like Rodri, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and Nathan Ake, as well as the recently departed Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan, City lack the chutzpah for a sustained challenge across fronts, regardless of who they bring in, personnel-wise.

Perhaps they knew whoever they chose was likely to be sacrificed at the alter of "The Guy After The Guy Who Gets Fucked," alongside David Moyes, Unai Emery, and even Arne Slot. An eventual move for Vincent Kompany would make a lot of sense. Destabilizing Chelsea was a bonus, but not when they hire Xabi Alonso afterwards.

Ayyoub Bouaddi and/or Enzo Fernandez are top players, the Moroccan the superior, but neither are ready to perform at the level of Rodri. Rayan Cherki theoretically can fill Silva's boots, but he is yet to disprove detractors calling him temperamental and impetuous. City also still need another XI level defender—their current crop has enough versatility that they can take a best player available approach— and a winger, especially in the light of a likely Savinho sale.

City should score goals. Haaland, Semenyo, Doku is arguably the best front three in the league, but their defense is flawed in its construction at every level; keeper, center back pairing, full back pairing, and their midfield lacks depth, cohesion, and top-level experience.

Despite only upgrading with Bruno Guimaraes, a position they were already strong, Arsenal seem well placed to repeat as champions. The level of competitiveness we see in the league will be dependent on how the window ends. City have lots of business left to do, and Arsenal will be scouring Europe for another attacker.