Peter Crouch has suggested that Arsenal are looking far more formidable than Manchester City as the new season approaches. The former England striker was particularly impressed by Mikel Arteta's team after their convincing 3-0 win in the Community Shield.
Crouch singled out new signing Christos Tzolis, who made an instant impact with two assists in his first full game for the Gunners. He also commended Miles Lewis-Skelly, who provided the assist for Riccardo Calafiori's opener.
In his assessment, Crouch stated:
I think City will improve, but Arsenal are currently way ahead – they look fully ready for the season.
Tzolis looks like a serious player on the left flank, and Calafiori was excellent too. The moment with Miles Lewis-Skelly before the first goal was just incredible. He allowed the ball to go past him and delivered a fantastic pass. If Martin Odegaard or Michael Olise had done that, we’d expect nothing less from them. It was top quality.
The ex-striker also noted the depth in City's midfield:
Lewis-Skelly looked brilliant in the centre, and they still have Bruno Guimaraes, Declan Rice, Martin Subimendi, and Mikel Merino to call upon. That’s an incredible lineup.
However, Crouch expressed concerns about the impact of Rodri's absence on City, despite the presence of Elliot Anderson:
Anderson played really well; I’m a big fan of his. But there’s no doubt they will miss Rodri – that's for sure.
Crouch also weighed in on Enzo Maresca, who will be tasked with building the team following Pep Guardiola's departure:
I like Maresca, but Guardiola is a coach of an entirely different level. I don’t think anyone would want to be the person following in his footsteps.
