Enzo Maresca spoke of his desire to "close the gap" between Manchester City and Arsenal before watching his side suffer a painful 3-0 defeat in the Community Shield on Sunday. Perhaps the gaping holes through the spine of his team should be more of an immediate area of focus.

The manner of that loss has raised qualifying questions, the only real clarity offered by the Premier League champions. Mikel Arteta's side brutally exposed a series of City shortcomings: defensively disorganised, missing a midfield and lacking leadership, to name but a few.

Under a week from the start of their campaign proper, City appear worryingly incomplete.

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"We have it quite clear what we need to do, and for sure we are going to do something before the transfer window closes," Maresca reassured after the game, before it was confirmed later the same evening that Rodri would be departing for Barcelona. Not sure that was exactly what he had in mind.

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City's trust in Maresca is such that defeat in the Community Shield will not cause a huge internal stir. There does, however, need to be a period of introspection. Does the Italian have the tools he needs to play the system he intends to? Sunday suggests not.

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Beyond being schooled by a slicker side in possession, all three of Arsenal's well-worked goals scored from open play, City's lack of imposition should be a major concern. Maresca's XI was packed with creators and scorers but none were effective. They played 200 more passes in the opposition half than Arsenal, yielding one big chance to Arsenal's four. That was missed by Erling Haaland.

Given Nico O'Reilly, Elliot Anderson and Haaland only returned from their post-World Cup breaks a few days prior, it's a wonder they were involved at all. None of that trio were particularly productive, albeit their underperformance comes with caveats and will rank low on Mareca's list of misgivings.

Much higher on his evolving catalogue of to-dos will be addressing how disconnected City's units are, all playing individually, much to Arsenal's aid. Mateo Kovacic's role as the central rotator did not work. Nor, for the most part, did O'Reilly's progression into midfield to create the 3-2 shape Maresca favours in build-up.

All O'Reilly succeeded in doing was leaving huge voids of space for Noni Madueke to run into. At one point Ben White was even playing like a winger. The talented 21-year-old, for all his many strengths - and he has great potential to thrive in a de facto central midfield role - was swamped by the class and nous of Arsenal's enforcers. He cannot yet do what Bernardo Silva or Rodri can do.

When the Gunners did arrive with numbers and intent to threaten, City held such a high defensive line it almost bated the obvious opening. No player engaged. And so Martin Odegaard's mind was made up for him. He used the generosity of his time and space to measure a cross for Christos Tzolis to tee up Kai Havertz. Child's play.

Maresca drew criticism for a similar tactical failing while in charge at Chelsea. A high line with a passive press is an accident waiting to happen in the Premier League.

City obviously have work to do between now and the close of the transfer window on September 1. Enzo Fernandez remains a target but comes with baggage. He's a player that often splits opinion - booed by sections of his own fanbase at the weekend - despite striking up a good working relationship with Maresca during their time together at Chelsea.

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He is not a Rodri replacement. Albeit no one is.

The Argentine does offer two things City's midfield currently lacks, though: goals and guile. Fernandez is a fighter and while that trait sometimes lands him in hot water, it is also necessary to add presence in an area of the pitch that needs it most. City were so lightweight on Sunday, Arsenal had carte blanche control.

Tijjani Reijnders is another set to move on, further weakening midfield options and piling responsibility on relatively young shoulders. Anderson is only 23. Key transfer target Ayyoub Bouaddi just 18. Kovacic, at 32, is perhaps too far the other side of peak. Where is the balance?

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A percentage of these problems can of course be attributed to rustiness. It was only game one, and not a consequential game at that. Haaland will get sharper. Anderson will learn how to better anchor midfield with some help. And the misshapen back four will iron out with a bit of time and work on the training pitch, as well as a better understanding of pressing distances in this system.

City are not required to play Arsenal every week, remember.

Sunday will have revealed plenty of uncomfortable truths for Maresca, not least how the gap to Arsenal appears to be widening rather than narrowing. He has three-and-a-half months' worth of soul-searching to do before their next bout in late November.

But he should also take comfort in the timing of such a revealing performance, perhaps a blessing in disguise in terms of evolution under his new rule, still with the means and support to do something about it.

Better get cracking, then.

Watch Manchester City vs Bournemouth live on Sky Sports Main Event on Sunday; kick-off 2pm