Today the new English football campaign begins with the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.
We take a look at some of the key clashes which could determine the outcome of this enticing encounter.
Cech vs Remy
Diego Costa suffered a slight recurrence of his longstanding hamstring injury against Barcelona earlier in the week, and though Mourinho stated that the Spanish international would be fit for today’s game, Remy is set to start.
Cech starts his first competitive game for Arsenal today and as fate would have it, it will be against the team he served so well for the best years of his career.
This could come down to a direct shootout between the two if it’s a cagey match and both players have points to prove. Whoever flinches first could win or lose the game for their side.
Fabregas vs Coquelin
Fabregas had a great season with Chelsea last year, capturing his first Premier League winner’s medal. Coquelin enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Arsenal and demonstrated that he has the potential to become the combative defensive midfield lynchpin Arsenal have been crying out for.
If Coquelin can put in a strong performance against one of the most crafty and experienced midfielders in Europe, it may give Wenger the confidence to stick by him throughout the season. If Fabregas can work his way around the young Frenchman consistently, it could create doubts about Coquelin’s ability to compete against the best players in the big games.
Terry vs Sanchez
Sanchez is a top player and Terry doesn’t like active, pacey strikers buzzing around him. The famous Chelsea vs Barca Champions League semi-final in 2012 was nearly jeopardised when Terry received a red card for an off the ball challenge on the Chilean. This altercation demonstrated how the Chilean can destabilise even the most composed defenders.
Sanchez likes to run from deep and attack from the flanks, so there will be times when his running puts him on a collision course with the Chelsea captain. Despite the fact that Terry returned to pre-season early in order to ensure that he is at peak fitness, he will have his hands full with Arsenal’s creative attacking players.
With this in mind, the most recent reference point remains Terry’s incredible performance at the Emirates at the end of last season. If he can replicate that level of play today he is likely to come out on top.
Which duel do you think will be the most significant in today’s game?
