Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea: Community Shield 2015 as it happened
Arsenal so close to a second! Living on the counter, Cazorla is left on his own just inside the box after Giroud's brilliant run took Cahill out of the equation. The Spaniard tried to slot one into the corner of the net but Courtois makes a great save to block it. It comes back out to Ramsey who tries to scoop it over everyone into the back of the net but a deflection takes it out for a corner which comes to nothing.
Ooof, what a miss from Hazard. Fabregas brilliantly turns Coquelin on the edge of the box and slide an equally sublime ball through for Hazard who has broken free inside the right of the box. Koscielny is racing across to put pressure on the Belgian and it works as he fires a wild shot over the bar. Rubbish effort
Arsenal are having plenty of joy down that right flank. This time, Hector Bellerin gets in on the act, bursting past his compatriot Azpilicueta before cutting a pass inside for Oxlade-Chamberlain, He tries to repeat his earlier trick, shifting the ball onto his left foot to shoot but he is crowded out just in time and Chelsea clear. And that will be that for the first half.
Arsenal close to a second! Brilliant stuff as the Gunners as they cut through Chelsea with precise one touch passing, eventually springing Oxlade-Chamberlain down the right flank. His first touch is a little heavy, but still manages to swing a cross into the box that Ivanovic just about clears after a brave leap that left him in a heap.
What a chance for Ramires! Remy springs the Arsenal offside trap, sneaking down the left channel before cutting the ball back onto his favoured right foot. He scoops an inviting cross into the six yard area where Ramires is waiting all on his lonesome, but can only nod a tame header straight into the grateful arms of Petr Cech,
Chelsea probe at the edge of the Arsenal box with Willian eventually finding Remy. With his back to goal, the Frenchman tries to turn but goes down under pressure from Mertesacker. There are soft appeals for a penalty but Chelsea carry on regardless, shifting the ball back out to Willian on the left who drills a cross into the box. It almost falls to Hazard but Arsenal manage to dig it out of trouble first.
Cahill cuts across to help Willian out with Ramsey trying to break down the flank but is left with blood streaming from his nose for his troubles after hitting the deck, nose first. The centre half was thought to have suffered a broken nose during the club's last preseason game against Barcelona but was passed fit to play today. After a brief pause, however, he's back up and looks okay to continue.
It seems Jose Mourinho was telling a few porkies on Friday in his press conference. Speaking to BT Sport, he reveals Diego Costa may not be fit for the start of the season next week.
Today is a trophy, a little one but still a trophy and more important
than a summer tournament. There is no advantage and no disadvantage [to
winning the Community Shield]. I don't know if Diego Costa will be
available for the start of the season. He had a little problem after the
Barcelona game. After that he was training normally and we thought he
would be ready, but this morning he was feeling uncomfortable.
As he did in the FA Cup final, Theo Walcott starts as a centre forward ahead of Olivier Giroud. It didn't turn out too badly last time, did it? Other than that, it is what you would normally expect from Arsene Wenger this afternoon as he aims to register his first ever win over Jose Mourinho.
New signings Radamel Falcao and Asmir Begovic settle for a spot on the Chelsea bench alongside Victor Moses and Juan Cuadrado.
TEAM NEWS: Petr Cech does indeed start against his former club in his first game as an Arsenal player, Theo Walcott, days after penning a juicy new contract at the Emirates, leads the Gunners' attack.
Arsenal XI: Čech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Özil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Walcott.
Subs: Martinez, Debuchy, Gibbs, Gabriel, Arteta, Iwobi, Giroud
TEAM NEWS: Diego Costa misses out completely after that hamstring problem during the week with Loic Remy leading the Chelsea attack in front of the trio of Eden Hazard, Ramires and Willian.
Chelsea starting XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Ramires, Willian, Hazard; Remy
Subs: Begovic, Zouma, Mikel, Oscar, Cuadrado, Moses, Falcao
Radamel Falcao is also in line for a debut this afternoon. Diego Costa was taken off with a hamstring injury during Chelsea's pre-season game with Barcelona last week and while Jose Mourinho confirmed he has a fully fit squad during his press conference on Friday, he may opt for the Colombian.
Gary Cahill is also fit despite taking a blow to the face in that same game.
Petr Cech is in line to make his Arsenal debut against his former employers this afternoon but there is no Danny Welbeck or Alexis Sanchez for the Gunners. Welbeck is still struggling with a knee problem while Sanchez has been given an extended summer break after helping Chile to Copa America success this summer.
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