Manchester City vs Arsenal: Maresca's First Trophy Shot

Enzo Maresca gets his first shot at a trophy as Manchester City manager on Sunday, and it comes with a familiar edge: Arsenal, the team that snatched the Premier League crown from City last season, stand in the way in the Community Shield.

City earned their place in English football’s traditional curtain-raiser by winning last season’s FA Cup in Pep Guardiola’s farewell campaign. Now the Guardiola era has closed, Maresca steps into the spotlight in Cardiff, taking charge of his fourth game with something tangible already on the line.

So far, the early signs under the Italian have been encouraging rather than spectacular. An opening draw against Inter in his unofficial debut was followed by back-to-back 3–1 wins over the K-League All-Stars and Atlético Madrid. Preseason form rarely tells the full story, but it has at least offered a glimpse of Maresca’s ideas and the players he trusts.

He will want a statement at the Principality Stadium. Against the defending champions. Against Mikel Arteta. Against a side that has become City’s most persistent domestic rival. But he will have to do it without some of his biggest names. Several key players are missing from his ideal XI, and Rodri—heavily linked with Barcelona—is out completely with a back issue.

That absence forces a reshuffle in the heart of the team and opens the door for others to step up.

Man City Predicted XI vs. Arsenal

• GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma
  This was shaping up to be James Trafford’s game before his $60.5 million move to Leeds United. With Trafford gone and Gerónimo Rulli only just through the door from Marseille as the new No. 2, the responsibility should fall to Gianluigi Donnarumma. A showpiece occasion, a top-level opponent, and an early chance for the Italian to stamp his authority as City’s first-choice goalkeeper.
• RB: Matheus Nunes
  Right-back remains a puzzle, but Matheus Nunes looks set to continue there. His likely duel with new Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis will be one to watch. The Greek winger has already produced three goal contributions under Arteta, and he will test Nunes’ concentration and defensive instincts all afternoon.
• CB: Abdukodir Khusanov
  City’s centre-back department has been stripped back over the summer. Nathan Aké has gone. John Stones too. Those departures clear a path for Abdukodir Khusanov. The young defender now stands on the brink of regular minutes, and a start in Cardiff would be a significant show of faith from Maresca.
• CB: Rúben Dias
  Alongside him, the familiar figure of Rúben Dias. He may not dominate quite as relentlessly as he did at his absolute peak, but his influence inside the dressing room and on the pitch remains immense. In a reshaped back line, his voice, positioning and aggression are non-negotiable.
• LB: Joško Gvardiol
  On the left, Joško Gvardiol is tipped to get the nod. Nico O’Reilly is unlikely to be risked from the start, and while Rayan Aït-Nouri offers attacking thrust, Maresca might lean on Gvardiol’s defensive solidity against Arsenal’s pace out wide. With Arsenal’s wingers capable of tearing open space in transition, Gvardiol’s timing in the tackle and recovery speed could be crucial.
• CM: Nico González
  Rodri’s back injury removes both a tactical pillar and a transfer saga from the immediate conversation. In his place, Nico González is expected to step into the holding role. It is a daunting assignment: protect the back four, dictate the tempo, and offer a platform for City’s creators. For González, it is also an opportunity to prove he can be trusted when the stakes rise.
• CM: Mateo Kovačić
  Alongside him, Mateo Kovačić brings experience and ball-carrying quality. At 32, he has already clocked up a third of last season’s appearance total in Maresca’s preseason schedule, a reminder of how limited his 2025–26 campaign was—just nine outings due to injuries. Now fit and heavily used, he looks central to Maresca’s early plans.
• RW: Savinho
  Out wide on the right, Savinho needs this season to break his stalemate. Linked again with Tottenham Hotspur as frustration grows over his lack of meaningful minutes, he now faces a reset under new management. Maresca offers him a clean slate; Savinho must respond with end product and consistency, starting with a high-profile test against Arsenal.
• AM: Phil Foden
  In the central attacking role, all eyes fall on Phil Foden. Left out of England’s World Cup squad, he heads into the new campaign with a point to prove. The numbers last season—21 goal involvements—tell one story. The feeling that he drifted through too many big games tells another. City supporters want the sharp, ruthless version of Foden back. Maresca might be the coach to unlock it.
• LW: Antoine Semenyo
  On the left, Antoine Semenyo has simply carried on where he finished. Four assists already in preseason underline his growing influence. Versatile, direct and relentless in his work rate, he has turned into one of City’s most astute recent signings. Under new management, he looks ready to climb another level.

A new manager, a reshaped spine, and a familiar rival. For Maresca, the Community Shield is more than a friendly curtain-raiser. It’s the first real hint of what this new City might become—and whether they are ready to chase Arsenal down again.