Arsenal dismantled Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, and new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca immediately targeted a familiar reinforcement: Pedro Neto from Chelsea.
Arsenal won the Community Shield with a convincing 3-0 victory over Manchester City at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. It was City's first competitive match since Pep Guardiola's departure and the first serious indication of the work awaiting his successor, Enzo Maresca.
Riccardo Calafiori scored after just 24 seconds, and Kai Havertz doubled the lead. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard set the final score early in the second half. The Gunners thus claimed their 18th Community Shield in history, their ninth in the Premier League era.
History, however, is not on Arsenal's side. According to Goal.com, the club has won the Shield 18 times but has never followed it with the English league title. The last time they beat Manchester United in the Shield, back in 1998, United responded with a historic treble.
On the other hand, Manchester City, in the last three instances when they lost the Shield (2021, 2022, and 2023), went on to win the league at the end of the season. They lost the title in the two most recent cases when they won the Shield, in 2019 and 2024.
The combination of the Shield and the league in the Premier League era has been achieved only eight times, most recently by Manchester City in the 2018-2019 season following their 100-point campaign. Sir Alex Ferguson with Manchester United holds the record with five doubles (1993-1994, 1996-1997, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2010-2011).
Despite the historical statistics, Arsenal is confident. Captain Odegaard told Goal.com that the team "showed their level and want to win everything." Manager Mikel Arteta added: "We know how difficult the task is, which is why we haven't won the title again. There is now greater confidence; we know how to win and what it takes to win the title, and playing like this is very impressive."
Arsenal opens their Premier League season on Friday evening against Coventry City, where they will try to convince the doubters and prove that this Shield marks the beginning of a title push, not an ominous sign.
On the other side, Maresca made it clear after the debacle what reinforcement he wants. The main target is Pedro Neto, the 27-year-old Portuguese winger from Chelsea, whom the Italian coached at Stamford Bridge after the player arrived from Wolverhampton in the summer of 2024. Maresca welcomed Neto to Chelsea, and under his guidance, Neto became a key part of the squad, so it's no surprise he wants him back.
The problem is the price. Chelsea is asking around £70 million, or more than €80 million, for Neto, which has so far been the main reason City hasn't made a decisive move.
Savinho plays a major role in the whole story. Tottenham wants the Brazilian winger from Manchester City, and his departure could open the door for Neto and bring City a significant portion of the funds needed for the Portuguese's transfer. The development of one story is expected to directly influence the other.
Saudi club Al Hilal has also seriously entered the race for Neto, having already held talks with representatives of the Portuguese international. According to the latest information, Al Hilal is ready to meet Chelsea's financial demands, while City has so far considered the asking price too high.
Maresca had already stated before the Community Shield that the squad could still change before the end of the transfer window. "Anything can happen until the transfer window closes," said the new City manager. Manchester City opens their new Premier League season on August 23 against Bournemouth.
