Enzo Maresca has set his sights on Arsenal from the very first day of his tenure as Manchester City manager, declaring that closing the gap on the Premier League champions is a core ambition for his debut season. That mission statement gets its earliest test in Sunday's Community Shield at Cardiff.

No room for pleasantries

Maresca made clear that, with silverware available, he has no intention of treating the occasion as a warm-up exercise. "For me personally, it's a trophy," he said. "When trophies are there in a final you are there to win the game — no friendly game at all. We want to try our best to win the first trophy."

The City manager was equally direct about the challenge Arsenal pose. "Arsenal have shown over the last few years they have always been there. They're a fantastic team, well managed and well coached from Mikel, and last year they win the Premier League. But we are City — we want to close the gap."

City finished seven points behind Arsenal in last season's Premier League table. According to Sky Sports' predictor, Arsenal enter Sunday as favourites to retain their crown, sitting four points clear of City in the pre-season rankings.

Arteta backs Maresca and eyes first trophy

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta offered a striking assessment of his opposite number, insisting Maresca is every bit as formidable a rival as his predecessor. "Now it's Enzo — who is as good as [Guardiola], because I know him well," Arteta said. "He will provide something different to the club."

Arteta also left no doubt about Arsenal's intentions. "The best version of Arsenal has to be on Sunday. The best performance, the best way to start the season — by lifting the first trophy. That's the way we've prepared the season," he said.

The Arsenal boss confirmed his squad is largely fit and sharp, describing the mood in the camp as electric. "You can tell how hungry the players are, which is a good sign," he said. "I love the way the players have come back — most of them earlier than expected. Really fit, we've done all the testing. They all seem in great condition. There's a lot of excitement."

Team news: Haaland set for cautious return

Maresca indicated Erling Haaland is available after a minor heel complaint but is expected to ease back into match fitness gradually. Omar Marmoush, who scored twice against Atletico Madrid in City's final pre-season outing, is set to lead the line, with Phil Foden handed the opportunity to stake his claim for the No 10 role following a summer free of international duty.

Central-midfield options for Maresca include Nico Gonzalez and Rico Lewis, with England pair Nico O'Reilly and Elliot Anderson still short of match sharpness after their World Cup involvement. There is also uncertainty over Tijjani Reijnders, who is unlikely to feature.

Arsenal's big guns in line off the bench

Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi are fit to play, though all three are expected to begin on the bench and come on for the final 30 minutes, in keeping with the club's pre-season approach. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba remain sidelined through injury.

Bruno Guimaraes is likely to start in midfield after making his Arsenal debut against Como, while Myles Lewis-Skelly could also feature despite ongoing speculation about his future. Summer signing Christos Tzolis is in line for a run-out on the left wing, and Riccardo Calafiori or Piero Hincapie will compete for the left-back berth. Martin Odegaard, reinvigorated after a disrupted previous campaign, has a chance to impose himself early.

The Community Shield at Cardiff on Sunday signals the beginning of what promises to be a compelling new era — one defined by the rivalry between Arteta and Maresca, the old guard replaced yet the ambition entirely unchanged.