"Lot of areas for improvement" - Fans tear into Man City after 3-0 loss to Arsenal in Community Shield
Manchester City were handed a massive reality check by Arsenal on Sunday as they were vanquished 3-0 in the Community Shield game, missing a chance to add a third silverware to their cabinet this year.
Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard combined to strike apiece and ruin Enzo Maresca's hotly anticipated first official game on the dugout as the City manager since replacing Pep Guardiola.
The Italian had fielded a strong lineup for the clash featuring their record signing Elliot Anderson while top marksman Erling Haaland also returned from his post-World Cup break, but it couldn't prevent the Citizens from getting outclassed by a vastly superior Arsenal side, led by the peerless Odegaard.
It took the Premier League champions less than 30 seconds to take initiative of the cup as Calafiori fired one past his compatriot Gianluigi Donnarumma following an excellent through ball from Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Havertz doubled the advantage after 28 minutes as new signing Christos Tzolis headed Odegaard's fabulous cross into his path for a simple finish from close-range before Odegaard himself got on target minutes into the second stanza with a nonchalant finish following a lovely team move.
Fans, plausibly frustrated with City's listless display, took to X to make their feelings know. Here are some of the reactions from the defeat:
One X user felt the side needs some of the current players must be replaced:
Let’s hope we learn from today’s match. With a long season ahead and a new manager, if we want to win something this season. We can’t rely on Kovac, Jack and Rico; we need to sign some good midfielders 🩵🙌🏻
The sentiment was shared by another fan who tweeted:
Lot of areas for improvement- strengthen mid field , improve conversion and choose your best defence
Another X user prophesied a tough season ahead for City:
This is going to be a long and shirty season for Man City
This X user wrote sarcastically:
Welcome to Life after guardiola
Another fan called for some tactical tweaks:
Kovacic does not work, we need Nico G and Anderson in midfield then Cherki as 10.
This fan also gave an unfavorable feedback of City's midfield:
we are going nowhere with Marmoush! Foden! Semenyo at RW! No RB! And a weak midfield!
However, amidst the sea of flaks, there was one optimistic fan:
It's a shame how this game ended; the team looked outmatched and lost on the field.
It's a painful result, but still, I want to believe we'll see a different team in the league.
Come on, gentlemen; this is just the beginning 🩵🔥
