COMMUNITY SHIELD PREVIEW & MATCHDAY DISCUSSION: ARSENAL VS CHELSEA

The London rivals get their seasons under way in earnest when they kick things off against each other at the iconic 'Home of Football'

Arsenal and Chelsea will lock horns at Wembley on Sunday when they contest the FA Community Shield.

The Gunners ensured their place in English football's annual season curtain-raiser by beating Antonio Conte's Premier League champions in the FA Cup final and are chasing their 15th title.

Chelsea, meanwhile, can lift the shield for the fifth time in their history if they overcome their London rivals, with their last triumph coming in 2009 against Manchester United.

Game: Arsenal vs Chelsea

Date: Sunday, August 6

Time: 14:00 (BST)

Potential Arsenal XI:
Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Monreal Kolasinac; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ozil; Iwobi, Lacazette

Potential Chelsea XI:
Courtois; Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Kante, Alonso, Moses; Willian, Morata, Batshuayi

BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS:

• Arsenal have won their last seven games at Wembley - the longest ever winning club run at the ground.

• The last time Arsenal failed to win at Wembley was the 2013/14 FA Cup semi-final vs Wigan (1-1), while the last side to beat them there was Birmingham in the 2010/11 League Cup final.

• Chelsea have lost their last three Community Shield matches, last triumphing on penalties in 2009 against Manchester United.

• The Blues have alternated between victory and defeat in their last six matches at Wembley, losing last time out to Arsenal in the 2016/17 FA Cup final..

• The last time these two sides were in the Community Shield was in 2015 – Arsenal winning 1-0 thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s strike..