The Community Shield clash between these two heavyweights on Sunday, may not have any Premier League implications, but does have silverware to play for. Be under no illusions; this match does carry significance and the outcome will tell us how far if at all, Arsenal have come, especially against a team they’ve failed to score against in the last 2 seasons.
We need not dwell on THAT record against Jose Mourinho Arsene Wenger bares on his mind. So Gooners worldwide as well as the man himself, will be desperate, pre-season trophy or not, for Arsenal to finally draw blood on the Stamford Bridge dragon.
Team News
Both sides should have next to fully available squads for the managers to select from ahead of the trip to Wembley.
The FA Cup holders will be without three or four players. Striker Danny Welbeck is still recovering from an injury which kept him sidelined for the remainder of last season back in April.
Midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini are both doubts for the weekend, with the former quoted by the manager to be a few weeks away from returning to the squad, after picking up injury during international duty.
David Ospina has only just returned to training and will definitely lack match fitness. Whether he makes the bench ahead of Emi Martinez is yet to be seen. Copa America hero Alexis Sanchez will re-join the group next week after enjoying a well deserved holiday break.
Predicted Line-Ups
Given the strength in depth we have in the squad, it’s never quite simple to predict Arsene Wenger’s next starting xl. For this match though, barring a late injury, I’m certain veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech will face his old club for the first time since his move across the Thames.
The defence will most likely see the Kos-Mert partnership start, alongside Hector Bellerin and I’m going to go for Kieran Gibbs to get the nod ahead of Nacho Monreal. Francis Coquelin will partner alongside Santi Cazorla, with Ozil as the no.10 man.
I also reckon either Ramsey or Wilshere will start on the wing, with Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud completing the attack. I’m predicting this because I think Wenger will want to keep bring the Ox on as an injection of speed at some point, and not put all his eggs in one basket to begin with.
Mourinho will probably start Courtois in goal and name a pretty predictable line-up which started a great portion of last season’s games.
Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa
Bench: Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Mikel, Moses, Remy, Falcao
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey, Walcott, Giroud
Bench: Martinez, Monreal, Gabriel, Arteta, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Akpom