It’s that time already, competitive football is back! The unofficial curtain opener if you will. This Sunday, Chelsea take on their rivals Arsenal at Wembley.
The Community Shield is a historic event for English football, it marks the opening of the new season and gives fans a chance to see their teams in action on one of the biggest stages of them all. Chelsea set up a tie with Arsenal after Arsene Wenger’s side beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.
Both sides are coming into the game off the back of a fairly successful pre-season so far. Arsenal lifted the Emirates Cup and the Barclays Asia Trophy. Whilst Chelsea still have one more pre-season game to play following the meeting at Wembley. The Blues saw off PSG and Barcelona after an early defeat to New York Red Bulls.
There will be two major talking points from the game on Sunday, firstly, the inclusion of Petr Cech to Wenger’s squad. The Chelsea icon is set to be the number one choice for Arsenal this season. It’ll be the first meeting between the two sides since Cech’s arrival and it has come around very quick.
Given the professional that Petr Cech is, he will be unfazed and treat it as any other game, as he should. However it’ll be an iconic moment for the goalkeeper. With Frank Lampard getting a great reception whilst at Man City, it’ll be great to hear the reception he truly deserves.
The second, is the long lasting rivalry between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger. The next chapter is set to unfold after the mind games started early. Mourinho accused Wenger of trying to buy the Premier League title, something Chelsea have been accused of many times in the past.
The rivalry between the pair spices up the game, giving Mourinho an extra incentive to seal a victory. A defeat to Arsene Wenger is something he will not want to be associated with.
Team News
Jose Mourinho has confirmed both Diego Costa and Gary Cahill will be fit to face Arsenal, there were doubts over the pair.
Arsenal will be without Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky who have been ruled out through injury.
I am predicting a tough game and a tight contested game that I am sure will not be your ordinary ‘pre-season’ game. Chelsea to win 2-1.
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