- Arsenal and Chelsea meet in the Community Shield at Wembley
- The FA Cup winners and Premier League champions meet on Sunday
- Arsenal new boy Petr Cech faces former club Chelsea for the first time
The
Premier League aperitif - Arsenal versus Chelsea in the Community Shield
- will whet the appetite for the season ahead on Sunday.
Many
are saying this could be Arsenal’s year after Arsene Wenger’s
succession of FA Cup triumphs, but Jose Mourinho will want his
double-winners and league champions Chelsea to stamp their authority on
English football once again.
To
make this early-season encounter even more enticing is the transfer of
Chelsea legend Petr Cech to their bitter rivals across London town,
gifting Arsenal one of the world’s best goalkeepers, a position they
have struggled to fill convincingly for years.
Will that tip the balance in Arsenal’s favour? Sportsmail has pitted what we consider the full-strength sides against each other to see who comes out on top.
New Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech will face former club Chelsea for the first time in the Community Shield
World class talent like Mesut Ozil and Eden Hazard will go head-to-head as Arsenal face Chelsea at Wembley
Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho do battle once more for the first piece of silverware this season
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Debuchy, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Cazorla, Wilshere, Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa.
GOALKEEPER
Petr Cech 8.5
For
a decade he was infallible in Chelsea’s goal, until a younger, newer
model came along. The Czech believes he is still one of the best, but
his age — 33 — slightly diminishes his powers.
Thibaut Courtois 9
Courtois
stole Cech’s crown from him at Chelsea and he just pips him to it in
the battle of the goalkeepers, which will make an interesting subplot as
events unfold. There is a reason why Mourinho made him Cech’s
replacement.
Winner: Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois displaced Cech as Chelsea's No 1 and just pips the Arsenal new boy in the battle of keepers
RIGHT BACK
Mathieu Debuchy 7
The
Frenchman is good going forward but is defensively suspect, which Eden
Hazard will look to exploit. Hector Bellerin will be pushing him for a
starting berth this season.
Branislav Ivanovic 8
A
truly wonderful player; a fighter and a warrior. Mourinho hails him
often as a hero of the side. He virtually never fails to deliver when it
matters. He is strong, powerful and reliable.
Winner: Chelsea
Branislav Ivanovic skippered the Blues against New York Red Bulls and is vice-captain for the season ahead
CENTRE BACK
Laurent Koscielny 7.5
The Frenchman freely admits he is not the most talented player, but he is a tireless worker and strong all-round defender.
Gary Cahill 8
The
England defender is a doubt for the match, but for this comparison we
are pitting each side’s best players regardless of availability. The
29-year-old has won all the major trophies at Chelsea and is one of the
best centre-backs in the game.
Winner: Chelsea
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has been at the Emirates since 2010 and remains a consistent performer
CENTRE BACK
Per Mertesacker 7.5
The
BFG — as he has so delicately been nicknamed by Arsenal fans (look it
up, if you don’t know) — is certainly a big giant, which has its obvious
advantages in the centre of defence. But he is also slow and has been
known to get his positioning all wrong at times.
John Terry 8
Chelsea’s
captain is still going strong at 34-years-old. His Stamford Bridge
career looked to be coming to an end but Terry came out fighting and was
one of the league’s top defender’s on the way to leading the club to
the title.
Winner: Chelsea
John Terry was one of the best defenders in the Premier League last season as the Blues lifted the title
LEFT BACK
Kieran Gibbs 7.5
Constantly
vying for a place with Nacho Monreal, but Wenger compared him to Ashley
Cole last season and when on form is a slightly more versatile
left-back with his added pace.
Cesar Azpilicueta 7
Even
though his preferred position is right-back, Azpilicueta was often
preferred over the recently departed Filipe Luis last season. He is a
solid defender, but not spectacular.
Winner: Arsenal
Arsenal left back Kieran Gibbs was compared to former Gunner and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole last term
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Jack Wilshere 8.5
The
England midfielder was absolutely flying for club and country right at
the end of last season. If he can avoid injury and continue playing in
the same fashion, Wilshere’s potential is frightening. Francis Coquelin
is another alternative at the base of the midfield for Arsenal after
impressing last season.
Nemanja Matic 8.5
The
Serbian is like a pneumatic drill in front of Chelsea’s defence and few
players can match him in that role breaking up opposition attacks.
Draw
Influential midfielders Jack Wilshere and Nemanja Matic are neck and neck in Sportsmail's head-to-head
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Santi Cazorla 8
Skilful,
sprightly and Spanish, Cazorla is one of the most creative passers and
biggest attacking threat on the ball around the area. Aaron Ramsey could
also fill the role of the link between defence and attack.
Cesc Fabregas 8.5
Unfortunately
for Cazorla, Chelsea also have a skilful, sprightly, Spanish midfielder
who is better. Fabregas was the assist king in the Premier League last
season and scores vital goals.
Winner: Chelsea
Fabregas took the crown for assists in the Premier League last season and will be hoping for more of the same
RIGHT WING
Theo Walcott 8
Worked
his way back from almost a year without playing and ended the season
showing his devastating ability with a hat-trick against West Bromwich
Albion and a goal in the FA Cup final win against Aston Villa.
Willian 7.5
Mourinho
likes his wingers to put a shift in and help the defence, which is why
he so often calls upon Willian. Even so, Walcott’s attacking ability
outweighs Willian’s more all-round game.
Winner: Arsenal
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott celebrates after scoring against Wolfsburg as Arsenal won the Emirates Cup
ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Mesut Ozil 7.5
If
only Ozil was consistent, he could be an eight or a nine. But
unfortunately he so often goes missing in games for Arsenal, even if
their are moments of his brilliance at times.
Oscar 7.5
Another
who is sometimes sublime but can disappear in matches. He appeared to
fall out of favour with Mourinho during spells last season, for his lack
of work-rate.
Draw
Chelsea's Brazilian playmaker Oscar appeared to fall out of favour last season for a lack of work-rate
LEFT WING
Alexis Sanchez 9
Undoubtedly
one of the world’s greatest talents. He is Arsenal’s biggest goal
threat due to his pace, dribbling skill and finishing.
Eden Hazard 9
Alongside
his Arsenal counterpart as one of the planet’s best and still only 24.
Mourinho has challenged him to compete with Lionel Messi and Cristiano
Ronaldo and he is not far off.
Draw
Alexis Sanchez is Arsenal's biggest threat and will be missed on Sunday following his Copa America exploits
STRIKER
Diego Costa 8
Another
who is unlikely to play on Sunday, but would still be Chelsea’s
first-choice striker if fit. He terrorises defences and bullies the ball
into the net, with head, toe or limb.
Olivier Giroud 7
Striker
is still another area that many feel Arsenal are lacking in. Giroud is a
very good player and a sound goalscorer, but never feels like one who
will find you that winner in a cup final.
Winner: Chelsea
Diego Costa is a doubt for Wembley's showpiece on Sunday but will be Chelsea's first-choice striker when fit
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SOCCER