{"id":139825,"date":"2015-08-02T07:30:55","date_gmt":"2015-08-02T07:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=139825"},"modified":"2015-08-02T05:13:20","modified_gmt":"2015-08-02T05:13:20","slug":"community-shield-arsenal-and-chelsea-to-kick-off-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/08\/community-shield-arsenal-and-chelsea-to-kick-off-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Shield: Arsenal and Chelsea to kick-off season"},"content":{"rendered":"
The English football season returns on Sunday when Premier League champions Chelsea meet FA Cup winners Arsenal in the FA Community Shield at Wembley.<\/p>\n
The match comes 64 days after the Gunners ended the domestic season with their 4-0 FA Cup win over Aston Villa.<\/p>\n
Neither side have added significantly to their squads over the summer – though goalkeeper Petr Cech will make his Arsenal debut against his old side.<\/p>\n
Chelsea could hand a start to new signing Radamel Falcao.<\/p>\n
Falcao, 29, spent last season with Manchester United but endured a poor campaign, scoring just four goals in 29 games.<\/p>\n
He signed a season-long loan deal from Monaco earlier this summer, while Chelsea’s only other signing is goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Stoke.<\/p>\n
He replaces Cech, 33, who played 494 games in 11 seasons at Stamford Bridge before his \u00a310m move in June.<\/p>\n
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that striker Diego Costa (hamstring) and defender Gary Cahill (nose) are both fit after pre-season injury concerns.<\/p>\n
A rivalry renewed: Wenger v Mourinho<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Wenger is yet to taste victory against Mourinho in 13 attempts and the two managers have already been involved in one disagreement this summer.<\/p>\n 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”.<\/p>\n On Friday Mourinho repeated his belief that Arsenal can mount a serious title challenge this season but played down his rivalry with Wenger.<\/p>\n He said: “It doesn’t matter about Arsenal, it doesn’t matter about the manager.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n In return Wenger light-heartedly suggested the media favour Mourinho: “I’ll leave your love story with him to continue without interfering.<\/p>\n “I wouldn’t like to interfere in that.”<\/p>\n When challenged that Mourinho believes it is Arsenal who receive preferential treatment, Wenger replied: “So it’s all about love.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Pre-season form<\/strong><\/p>\n Arsenal have been in fine form this summer, and have already won two pre-season tournaments.<\/p>\n First they beat Everton in Singapore<\/span>