Community Shield Preview: Arsenal v Chelsea

The Premier League kicks off in just over a weeks time and it really couldn’t come soon enough for most of you I’m sure. That means this weekend we will see the traditional curtain raiser, the FA Community Shield. It has a little more importance than the friendly games which have gone before this pre season, but still gives bragging rights to the victor.

The winners of the Premier League, Chelsea will take on their London rivals and FA Cup Winners, Arsenal. Where ever you look with regards this game there is a potential storyline. Arsenal, who won the Community Shield last season, will be looking to winning back to back for the first time since 1999. In order to do that though Arsene Wenger will have to do something he hasn’t done before, beat a side managed by the Special One, Jose Mourinho. If he was to do that then how much would he have relied on the ex Chelsea keeper Petr Cech? Will ex Arsenal boy Cesc Fabregas score the winner for Chelsea to increase the unsuccessful streak for Wenger v Mourinho.
Chelsea were absolutely dominant in the Premier League last season, finishing a cool twelve points ahead of Arsenal with a plus six better goal difference.

The pre season has been quite different though. The sale of Petr Cech to Arsenal saw the Blues purchase Asmir Begovic, who bombed on his debut against New York Red Bulls, losing 4-2 eventually. A small piece of pride was wrestled back with draws against Barcelona and PSG, with Chelsea victorious on penalty kicks.

Arsenal meanwhile have been on fire, beating Everton, Lyon and Wolfsburg to win the Emirates cup, again. The youngsters have impressed Wenger with Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Alex Iwobi two who stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Chelsea might not want to win this game though, the last time a side won the Community Shield and then won the Premiership the following season was five years ago. 2010, Manchester United beat Chelsea and then would lift the Premier League trophy but since then 2011, United won the Shield, but City would win the League. 2012 City won the shield and relinquished their title back to United before it reversed the following season. Last season, Arsenal were victors, but their opponents on Sunday won the League. That said, the last two times Chelsea did win the shield they also went on to win the league (2005 and 2009).

At Wembley on Sunday all the questions will be answered with the kick off scheduled at 3pm local time, or 10am here on the East Coast of the USA. Let the games begin.

Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979