Community Shield - Arsenal vs Chelsea

[Shed]

Chelsea will face off against London rivals Arsenal in
the 2015 Community Shield on Sunday, August 2^nd

The opener of the 2015 English football season will pit Premier League champions Chelsea against London neighbours, FA Cup winners Arsenal. At stake, the first piece of silverware of the season, but also, perhaps unsurprisingly, a fair bit more....

Indeed, with the history between not only both of these sides, but also their managers, it's hardly a surprise that, as with just about all of the clashes between the pair of late, a significant apportionment of the coverage in the lead-up to tomorrow's affair has been dedicated to José Mourinho and Arsene Wenger's rancorous history with each other. And, with the latter having in the sides' clash at Stamford Bridge early last season failed to control the sort of inferiority complex, insecurity, and anger one must inevitably accrue after trying 13 times, and failing 13 times, to attain even a singular victory over the manager of one of your most proximate and bitter rivals, and having as a result physically accosted him, and with the pair also trading barbs over the last week or so, it has been hardly a shock that the two have been splashed across the headlines...

In his characteristically sardonic, implicitly baiting manner, Mourinho made reference to the fact that even his supposed inferiors have managed to pull off unexpected wins against him a time or two here and there over the years, and implies that Wenger ought to be asking himself questions as to why he hasn't yet, in over a dozen times of trying, been able to accomplish the same:

“I think I lost twice against Tony Pulis. I lost against Crystal Palace and against West Brom. One game each.”

“I think I would ask myself why. I would to try to answer but not because of a mental block but because I would want to try to find solutions to help my team to do it.”

Wenger, in his also-characteristic passive-aggressive manner, opined on the matter of the pair's past by quipping simply:

“I will leave you and your love story with him to continue without interference.”

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On top of it, in light of the finish to last year's Premier League campaign, with Arsenal gradually, though ultimately availlessly, gaining ground on Chelsea as the season progressed towards the finish line, and having strengthened their squad even more this summer—not least with the addition of Chelsea legend Petr Cech—whilst their rivals in Blue have effectively stagnated, many believe this season may be the one the Gunners will at last be legitimately capable of having themselves smack in the thick of the title hunt, where Chelsea are all but guaranteed to be as well. Given this, many are viewing Sunday's affair as something of a litmus test of Arsenal's ability, both on the pitch and in their heads, to overcome both short term and long, a rival they have for well over a decade now been decidedly and helplessly second-best to.

Nevertheless, tomorrow's game is, in the end, just a friendly - and one occurring just weeks after both sides have started their preparations for the coming campaign, and consequently anyone who will take too much away from the outcome of it, on either end of the final scoreline, will be but wasting his time on a fool's errand.

Chelsea come into the game having endured a mixed pre-season despite beating Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona on penalties in their International Champions Cup friendlies this week.

The Blues started off their tour of the US with a surprise 4-2 defeat at the hands of a second-string New York Red Bulls side last week despite having the likes of captain John Terry on the pitch.

However, Mourinho's side did secure two victories in their post-season friendlies against Sydney FC and Thailand All-Stars, which followed on from their Premier League and Capital One Cup successes last term.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will come into the clash against Chelsea in a confident mood after winning the Emirates Cup last weekend, in which the Gunners thrashed French giants Lyon 6-0 and also beat Wolfsburg.

Wenger's side also clinched the Barclays Asia Trophy with a win over Everton in Singapore this summer.

— London Evening Standard

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Anthony Taylor, who last officiated for Arsenal in their penultimate game of the 2014/15 season – a nil-all draw at home to Sunderland – and for Chelsea in their 2-0 victory over other London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Capital One Cup Final in March, as been appointed referee for Sunday's affair.

The match kicks off at 1500 BST

[Rebelles.REUS.rex]

[El Gunner]

Even though it might not be such a huge game, I really do hope Wenger finally gets one over Jose. Will be good for our mentality.

[Abramovich]

Ah well would rather get the inevitable loss out of the way in a friendly game....

Let's hope its business as usual come the season.

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