Arsenal and Manchester City are set to face off in the Community Shield in Cardiff this Sunday. The match serves as a high-profile debut for Enzo Maresca, who has taken the reins at Manchester City following the departure of Pep Guardiola at the end of last season. Mikel Arteta, who previously served as Guardiola's assistant at City, took time during a Friday press conference to reflect on his former mentor's legacy while looking ahead to the challenge posed by his successor.
Arteta lauded Guardiola for his transformative impact on English football, noting that he elevated the Premier League to a new level during his 10-year tenure, which included 20 major trophies. Describing Guardiola as the best coach in the history of football, Arteta stated that he would be missed within the league. Despite Guardiola's exit, Arteta, who ended Arsenal's 22-year wait for a Premier League title, remains convinced that City will continue to be a formidable force under Maresca, a manager he knows well.
Highlighting the decision-making process at City, Arteta remarked that the club had the freedom to choose almost any candidate but selected Maresca for the right reasons. He expressed confidence in the new manager, citing his personality, character, and deep knowledge of the game. Arteta noted that Maresca has already demonstrated his capabilities at various levels, including his work in the Champions League and his previous stint at Chelsea, leaving the Arsenal boss with no doubt that he will perform an unbelievable job.
Regarding his own squad, Arteta confirmed that England internationals Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka could potentially feature in the upcoming match, while new signings Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis are also likely to be involved. As the team prepares to compete for the first trophy of the season, Arteta emphasized the goal of delivering their best performance on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Arsenal manager remained tight-lipped on transfer rumors involving Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah, following failed attempts to sign Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa. He reiterated that the club's focus remains on evolving and improving the squad to achieve their ambitions.
"That's why he's been selected, because they could probably pick anybody and they've gone for Enzo for the right reasons.
"I'm not going to talk about any individuals (elsewhere)," he said. "Obviously what I can tell you is the ambition of the club.
