Saturday 1 August 2015

FA Community Shield: Arsenal v Chelsea


The English football season returns on Sunday when Premier League champions Chelsea meet FA Cup winners Arsenal in the FA Community Shield at Wembley.
The match comes 64 days after the Gunners ended the domestic season with their 4-0 FA Cup win over Aston Villa.
Neither side have added significantly to their squads over the summer - though goalkeeper Petr Cech will make his Arsenal debut against his old side.
Chelsea could hand a start to new signing Radamel Falcao.
Falcao, 29, spent last season with Manchester United but endured a poor campaign, scoring just four goals in 29 games.
He signed a season-long loan deal from Monaco earlier this summer, while Chelsea's only other signing is goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Stoke.
He replaces Cech, 33, who played 494 games in 11 seasons at Stamford Bridge before his £10m move in June.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that striker Diego Costa (hamstring) and defender Gary Cahill (nose) are both fit after pre-season injury concerns.

A rivalry renewed: Wenger v Mourinho

Sunday sees two Premier League giants collide, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hoping to beat a side managed by Jose Mourinho for the first time.
Wenger is yet to taste victory against Mourinho in 13 attempts and the two managers have already been involved in one disagreement this summer.
Mourinho suggested that Arsenal had spent more money than Chelsea over the last few years, with Wenger responding by saying he "does not listen to what people think or say".
On Friday Mourinho repeated his belief that Arsenal can mount a serious title challenge this season but played down his rivalry with Wenger.
He said: "It doesn't matter about Arsenal, it doesn't matter about the manager.
"I never made it an explosion of happiness or special pride in my victories over Arsenal. I do not make a drama if one day we lose."
In return Wenger light-heartedly suggested the media favour Mourinho: "I'll leave your love story with him to continue without interfering.
"I wouldn't like to interfere in that."
When challenged that Mourinho believes it is Arsenal who receive preferential treatment, Wenger replied: "So it's all about love."
Arsenal - who have not scored against Chelsea in over eight hours of play - did win last season's Community Shield - beating Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley.

Pre-season form

Arsenal have been in fine form this summer, and have already won two pre-season tournaments.
First they beat Everton in Singapore  before thrashing Lyon and beating Bundesliga runners-up Wolfsburg to win the Emirates Cup at their home ground.
A highlight has been the emergence of youngsters Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Alex Iwobi - nephew of former Bolton and Hull midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha.
Chelsea have spent a mixed pre-season in the United States.
Begovic was beaten four times in a "tired" display as Jose Mourinho's side lost 4-2 to New York Red Bulls, before draws with Paris St-Germainand Barcelona - both of which the Blues won on penalty shootouts.
Chelsea begin their Premier League defence against Swansea on Saturday, 8 August (17:30 BST), while Arsenal face West Ham at 13:30 the next day.

Does the Community Shield set the tone?

2014: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City
A comfortable win for the Gunners. Arsenal went on to retain the FA Cup and finish third in the Premier League, four points behind runners-up City. Chelsea won the title by eight points.
2013: Manchester United 2-0 Wigan
The first game of David Moyes's short reign at Old Trafford was not a sign of things to come. Moyes was sacked at Easter as champions United finished in seventh place - their worst Premier League season. Manchester City were champions as FA Cup holders Wigan went on to lose in the Championship play-offs.
2012: Chelsea 2-3 Manchester City
In a game played at Villa Park thanks to the Olympics in London, Samir Nasri hit the winner for champions City. Chelsea would sack Roberto Di Matteo before Christmas and City would also part company with their Italian manager, Roberto Mancini, at the end of the season after losing the FA Cup final to Wigan. Manchester United were champions in Sir Alex Ferguson's final campaign.
2011: Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United
Nani's stoppage-time winner gave Manchester United a win over rivals City, but Roberto Mancini's side were smiling nine months later as Sergio Aguero's famous last-gasp goal gave them their first league title in 44 years, denying United on goal difference.
2010: Chelsea 1-3 Manchester United
Manchester United were too good for Chelsea, a pattern that would repeat itself over the course of the season. Sir Alex Ferguson's men were champions again, beating the Blues by nine points and prompting owner Roman Abramovich to fire Carlo Ancelotti 12 months after winning the double.

The key Wembley stats

  • The FA Cup winners have only won one of the last five Community Shield matches - Arsenal last year.
  • The last two times Chelsea have won the Community Shield, they have gone on to win the title (2005 and 2009).
  • These sides have met once previously in the Community Shield, Chelsea winning 2-1 in 2005. Cesc Fabregas, now at the Blues, scored Arsenal's goal that day.
  • This will be the Gunners' 21st appearance in the Community Shield. They've won it outright 12 times, losing seven (twice on penalties) and shared it once.
  • Chelsea will be making their 11th appearance in the event. They've won it four times (once on penalties), losing the other six (twice via penalty shootout).
  • The last five Community Shield games have produced a total of 19 goals.
  • The last time a side that won the Community Shield went on to win the league title was in 2010 (Manchester United).
  • Arsene Wenger has never beaten Jose Mourinho in 13 attempts (D6 L7).
  • Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Arsenal (W5 D3).
  • The Gunners have gone 482 minutes without a goal against Chelsea.

MATCH STATS

Possession50%50%0minsArsenalChelsea

Shots

00

On target

00

Corners

00

Fouls

00

No comments:

Post a Comment