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Preview: Arsenal v Chelsea, Team News, Starting XI & Prediction

By on August 2, 2015

Arsenal fa cup

Arsenal will be looking to strike an early physiological blow when we take on Chelsea in the Community Shield this afternoon.

The new season has come around quickly and I think it’s safe to say Arsenal fans are looking forward to this one as much as any in recent memory.

The squad is in great shape, the boys look confident and we’ve added a world class goalkeeper to our ranks which should make a huge difference.

Chelsea are obviously going to be the ultimate test as they’ve had our number in recent years, but I’m quietly confident we can cause them a few problems.

We thrashed Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield last year but went on to have our worst start to a Premier League season in Arsene Wenger reign, so it doesn’t mean too much.

However, this game will be different as it’s Chelsea. And it’s Mourinho. Arsene is desperate to get one over the Portuguese big-mouth so let’s hope we can do the business today.

Team News

Alexis Sanchez won’t be available as he’s only due to return to pre-season training today after his extended post-Copa America break.

Danny Welbeck is also out as he’s still nursing a knee injury that he picked up way back in April last season. The 24-year-old should return to training soon but he won’t take any part against Chelsea.

Cech is expected to start in goal against his former side and David Ospina may be on the bench after returning to training last Monday.

As for Chelsea, Diego Costa and Gary Cahill have both been passed fit after picking up knocks against Barcelona last week.

Preferred XI

It’s going to be interesting to see who Arsene goes with in the full-back positions but I’d go with Bellerin and Gibbs.

We can’t break-up the Coquelin/Cazorla partnership in midfield so Ramsey may be forced to play out wide again. Not idea and he’s voiced his preference to play centrally, but he needs to get his head down and do a job for the team.

Up front I’d like to see Walcott given the nod. He’s looked extremely sharp in pre-season and I think his pace will cause Terry/Cahill a lot more problems than Giroud would.

This is the team I’d go with:

Prediction

We know Chelsea will be a tough side to break down and they’ll probably make this game a tight, dull affair, but I have a feeling we’re going to sneak it. We’ve looked much better than them in pre-season and I just think it’s written in the stars for Cech to make a winning return against Chelsea.

I’m going for a narrow 1-0 win.  Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

COYG!