Chelsea and Arsenal will take to the field at Wembley on Sunday to compete for the first silverware of the season. The two sides have met just once before in this competition with Didier Drogba clinching the game for the Blues as they sneaked it 2-1 back in 2005.
For Arsene Wenger, it is another crack at his dismal record against his nemesis Jose Mourinho, the Frenchman has failed to win any of his 13 previous encounters against the Portuguese.
However, the FA Cup holders will take confidence from their impressive pre-season as they take on the Premier League’s defending champions who have strengthened in the summer with the addition of star striker Radamel Falcao.
One unfamiliar sight in this match will be the presence of Petr Cech on the Arsenal teamsheet after a successful career at Chelsea, where he won the Community Shield twice. The 33-year old goalkeeper has been Arsenal’s biggest coup of the transfer market so far.
The game promises to be a test of Arsenal’s title credentials and their character as they take on a side against whom they have failed to score for over 8 hours.
Arsenal vs Chelsea Team News:
Gary Cahill and Diego Costa were doubts after Cahill appeared to have broken his nose in Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Barcelona while Diego Costa suffered a hamstring knock.
However, both are expected to be fit and Costa is expected to take his place ahead of Falcao and Remy in the starting lineup. Alexis Sanchez is the only big name missing from the Arsenal lineup after a long season culminating with the Copa America last month.
Arsenal vs Chelsea possible starting lineups:
Arsenal: Cech; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil; Akpom, Giroud
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy
Arsenal vs Chelsea Key Stats
13 – José Mourinho is unbeaten in his 13 competitive matches as a manager versus Arsène Wenger, winning seven.
71% – Arsène Wenger has won five of his seven previous Community Shield matches. The only time he has faced Chelsea in this competition was a 2-1 loss back in 2005.
407 – Arsenal have gone 407 minutes since they last scored against a Chelsea side coached by Mourinho. This was Gilberto Silva’s penalty in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates back in May 2007 that handed Manchester United the Premier League title.
Stats courtesy of soccerlens
Arsenal vs Chelsea Prediction:
Chelsea are always up for these London derbies against Arsenal but there is a steely determination about this Arsenal side. While Chelsea are still bigger favorites for the title, Arsenal will fancy their chances in this game. The Gunners were up for it more against City last season, and would be desperate to turn around their pathetic record against the Blues.
The match means more to Arsenal than to their West London rivals, and in the Community Shield, it is usually the more desperate side which comes out on top.
2-1 to Arsenal.