1 VS 1 
90' The fourth official has indicated that there will be five minutes of added time. Can either side find a late winner?
89'
A thumping free-kick from inside the Chelsea half of the pitch picks
out Morata on the edge of the Arsenal box. The striker rises high and
then nods the ball down into the path of Azpilicueta, but Cech is there
to cut out the danger at the vital moment.
88'
Musonda, who hasn't been able to see much of the ball so far, is
finally presented with a chance to break away quickly. He can't make it
count, though, as he's almost immediately closed down by blue shirts and
is dispossessed just outside of the Arsenal penalty area.
R. Nelson
D. Welbeck
87' Arsenal have made a substitution, with Reiss Nelson coming on to take the place of Welbeck.
86'
Arsenal quickly win the ball back from the under-pressure opponents
before pushing forward downt he right flank, but a pass into the path of
Bellerin is poorly hit and rolls out for a goal-kick.
84'
It's all Arsenal now as they continue to fly forward. Bellerin twists
and turns deep down the right flank before the ball is eventually worked
over to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who swings in a slightly overhit cross that
is easily collected by Courtois.
G. Xhaka
Assist
82'
That was a great ball into the box from Xhaka, but Chelsea should have
done much better defensively. Like Arsenal for the earlier goal, they
switched off when it mattered, with Fabregas playing everyone onside.
S. Kolašinac
Goal
82'
GOAL! Kolasinac equalises for Arsenal! The new boy rises high from the
resulting free-kick and reaches Xhaka's cross, and he then nods a lovely
header down past Courtois and into the bottom corner of the net.
C. Musonda
Willian
81' Chelsea have made another late alteration, with Willian making way for Charly Musonda.
Pedro
Red Card
80'
RED CARD! Pedro flies into the back of Elneny and catches the Egyptian
on the heel with a late, dangerous sliding challenge that leaves the
midfielder in a lot of pain. The referee isn't at all happy with the
Spaniard's tackle, and he doesn't hesitate in giving him his marching
orders.
A. Rüdiger
Marcos Alonso
79' Another debutant has come on for Chelsea, as Alonso has departed for Antonio Rudiger.
78'
Space opens up for Chelsea as they push forward on the break, allowing
Willian to get himself into a promising position. He then swings a cross
into the box and over to the far post, where Morata sticks out a leg
but can't hit the target with his hopeful effort.
76'
The resulting corner is fired into the heart of the penalty area and
picks out Holding, but the young defender is unable to keep his headed
effort down and sends it sailing over the top of the crossbar.
75'
What a save by Courtois! Xhaka unleashes an almighty strike from 30
yards out that looks set to find the top left-hand corner of the net,
but Courtois does brilliantly well to parry the shot wide of the goal
with a great one-handed stop.
Álvaro Morata
M. Batshuayi
74' A huge roar erupts from the Chelsea end of the stadium as new signing Alvaro Morata comes on to replace Batshuayi up front.
73'
Arsenal are knocking on the door, but Chelsea are doing well not to let
them in. The Blues have looked much more defensively solid since the
break, and they now look content to sit deep and defend before hitting
their opponents on quick counter-attacks.
71'
Welbeck and Giroud initially link up well deep down the left flank, but
neither are able to find a way into the Chelsea penalty area and lose
out to Moses. The wing-back then tries to kick-start a counter-attack,
but he's clattered into by Kolasinac and wins a free-kick for his side.
69'
A determined Chelsea attack results in a free-kick for Chelsea in a
promising position, and it's one that David Luiz is eyeing up. The
Brazilian steps up and instead chips a pass into the box, where it's
well dealt with by Arsenal and fails to result in a chance on goal.
67'
Welbeck muscles his way down the left wing as he tries to find a way
into the box. He beats two players and then takes on Azpilicueta on the
edge of the penalty area, but it's the Spaniard who comes out on top
with a clever interception.
T. Walcott
A. Iwobi
66' And the second is Theo Walcott, who takes the place of Iwobi.
O. Giroud
A. Lacazette
66'
Arsenal have decided to make a double substitution as they try to get
back into the game. The first player to come on is Olivier Giroud, who
replaces Lacazette.
64'
Lovely play by Bellerin sets up Iwobi to fire in a low cross from the
right wing. It rolls into the Chelsea penalty area and looks set to pick
out Lacazette, but Azpilicueta is there to knock the ball back to
Courtois, who then blasts it back up the pitch.
62'
Vital interception by Holding! Willian charges down the right flank on a
wonderful run and then fires a low cross into the middle of the box,
where it almost finds Pedro but is well dealt with by Holding at the
vital moment.
61'
Almost another chance for Arsenal! The Gunners move the ball around
patiently on the edge of the penalty area before Elneny eventually sets
up Lacazette in front of goal, but the striker isn't able to control the
ball and knocks it out of play before eventually being flagged offside.
59'
Elneny goes close to equalising! Space opens up for the Egyptian deep
down the right wing, allowing him to swing in a cross. His pass ends up
looking more like a shot, and it forces Courtois into making a smart
diving save at the near post.
57'
After a couple of minutes receiving medical treatment, Cahill and David
Luiz are able to get back to their feet and the game gets underway once
again. Chelsea try to quickly break down the right wing, but Kolasinac
is there to out-muscle and dispossess Willian.
55'
The corner is swung into the middle of the box and finds Holding, who
manages to get a head on the ball but can't control it fully. Arsenal
are able to keep the move alive, however, before a chipped cross is sent
in by Monreal, but Cahill and David Luiz clash heads nastily and force
the referee into temporarily pausing the game.
54'
Iwobi sends a lovely pass into the penalty area and towards Lacazette,
who just about manages to get a toe on the ball to keep the danger
alive. Bellerin is then set up over on the right flank, where, under
pressure from Alonso, he does well to win Arsenal a corner.
52'
Pedro slides into Xhaka from behind and brings the midfielder crashing
to the ground, resulting in a free-kick for Arsenal on the halfway line.
It's sent short and quickly worked down the left wing, where the ball
is almost immediately picked up by a blue shirt.
50'
Arsenal break away on their first attacking move of the second half as
they try to find a quick equaliser. The ball eventually falls to Elneny
just outside of the box, but he scuffs his first-time strike and sends
it high over the top of the crossbar.
48'
Chelsea quickly push forward once again and win themselves another
corner. This one is sent short before Fabregas whips a lovely cross into
the box that's only just dealt with by Holding. Batshuayi then manages
to get a shot away, but it's easily stopped by Cech in the middle of the
goal.
G. Cahill
Assist
46'
Cahill did well to set up Moses with a strong, looping header back into
the penalty area, but Arsenal really should have done better
defensively. Everyone seemed to fall asleep and left the Nigeria
international all alone in front of goal.
V. Moses
Goal
46'
GOAL! What a start to the second half for Chelsea! An early corner
isn't dealt with at all well enough by Arsenal, allowing the Blues to
come back once again. A header from Cahill beats all the defenders and
finds Moses, who takes on Cech and gets the better of the goalkeeper
from close range.
46' We're underway once again!
The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of
the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions
during the half-time break.
It's been a relatively even game so far, although Arsenal have arguably
been the better of the two sides and should head down the tunnel
happiest. They started particularly well and caused plenty of problems
for a Chelsea back line that looked slightly off the pace, resulting in
Lacazette hitting the post with a wonderful curling effort. At the other
end, the reigning league champions have created little, with Batshuayi
struggling to get into the game despite some good play by Pedro and
Willian on a few occasions.
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 CHELSEA
45' + 3'
A chipped cross in from Oxlade-Chamberlain is met by Azpilicueta, who
can only head it behind for a corner. Xhaka steps up and curls a deep
ball into the box, but it's slightly too heavy and fails to find a
team-mate.
45' + 1'
Chelsea are unable to fully clear the danger over on the left flank and
gift the ball to Bellerin. The wing-back quickly moves it over to
Welbeck just outside of the penalty area, but the forward brings a
promising attacking move to a disappointing end with a wild shot that
flies well wide of its intended target.
45' The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time.
44'
Space opens up in the middle of the pitch, allowing Iwobi to burst
forward. He plays a quick one-two with Oxlade-Chamberlain and then
manages to get a shot away from inside the box, but it lacks the power
needed to trouble Courtois in the middle of the goal.
42'
Beautiful defending by David Luiz! A bouncing pass flies into the
Chelsea penalty area and towards the Brazilian, who is immediately put
under pressure by Welbeck. He does really well to knock the ball over
the forward and up into the air, and he then coolly and calmly pulls off
a backwards header that sends the ball into the hands of Courtois. The
crowd loved that!
41'
Another attempted Chelsea attack breaks down, allowing Arsenal to fly
forward over on the left flank. Kolasinac charges deep into the Chelsea
half of the pitch on a wonderful run and then sets up
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who fires a low cross into the box that fails to
find a red and white shirt in front of goal.
40'
N'Golo Kante and Willian link up really well on the edge of the Arsenal
penalty area before the latter tees up Batshuayi. The striker initially
holds off his marker before spinning and getting a shot away, but,
under pressure, he can only fire it straight into the chest of Holding.
39'
Poor play by Chelsea gifts the ball to Xhaka, who then quickly works it
forward and out to the left wing. Oxlade-Chamberlain is unable to take
advantage of the error, however, as a loose pass can only find a blue
shirt in the middle of the park.
Willian
Yellow Card
37'
Big call by the referee! Willian skips into the Arsenal box and takes
on Bellerin before throwing himself to the ground. He immediately
screams for a penalty, but the referee isn't at all impressed with the
Brazilian's antics and shows him a yellow card for diving.
Marcos Alonso
Yellow Card
35'
After Arsenal's attempted attacking move fails to come to an end,
Chelsea counter quickly. Willian fires a wonderful cross-field pass over
to Pedro, who controls it well and unleashes a thumping strike that
Cech comfortably saves. Arsenal then try to break forward on a
counter-attack of their own, but they're unable to do so due to a
crunching challenge from Alonso on Bellerin.
34'
Arsenal are able to get back on the ball as they patiently work their
way from one flank to another. Oxlade-Chamberlai is eventually set up
just outside of the Chelsea box, but he's quickly outnumbered and fails
to get a shot away before being dispossessed.
S. Kolašinac
P. Mertesacker
32' Kolasinac has indeed come on to replace Mertesacker in what is his official debut for Arsenal.
31'
The game gets underway once again after a groggy looking Mertesacker
departs the field. Chelsea try to make their numerical advantage count
as they pile forward, but Moses' thumping low cross in from the right is
deflected away by the outstretched limbs of Petr Cech.
30'
This doesn't look good for Mertesacker, who is losing a lot of blood as
he receives medical treatment inside the Arsenal penalty area. Sead
Kolasinac is getting ready on the substitutes' bench, and it looks as if
he's going to have to come on and take the German's place.
28'
Victor Moses gets the better of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deep down the
right flank before trying to skip past Welbeck, who pokes the ball
behind for a corner with an excellent sliding tackle. The set-piece is
swung into the box and almost finds Cahill, but he ends up smashing into
the nose of Mertesacker as the two battle for the ball, leaving the
Arsenal defender in a heap on the floor and covered in blood.
26'
Holding charges deep into the Chelsea half of the pitch and does well
to carve out a pocket of space for himself just outside of the box. He
looks set to pull the trigger, but just as he's about to, Pedro
dispossesses him with a well-timed tackle.
24'
Azpilicueta tries to pick out Alonso with a lofted pass over the top of
the Arsenal back line and into the penalty area, but it's overhit and
fails to pick out the wing-back near to the byline.
23'
Lacazette hits the post! Another swift counter-attack causes all sorts
of problems for the Chelsea back line. Welbeck does really well on the
left-hand side of the penalty area before setting up Lacazette, and the
Frenchman then beats Courtois with a wonderful curling strike that
smashes off the woodwork.
21'
Pedro embarks on a wonderful run as he darts through a sea of Arsenal
shirts and into the penalty area. He heads towards the byline and then
tees up Alonso, who tries to fire a cross into the box but sends it
sailing out for a throw-in on the opposite flank.
20'
Fabregas knocks a lovely pass into the box and towards Willian, who is
quickly closed down by Rob Holding and has to settle for a corner. It's
sent short before Fabregas eventually unleashes a cross, but it's poorly
hit and easily defended.
18'
Michy Batshuayi, who has been quiet so far, is eventually brought into
the game after a deflected shot from Fabregas loops into his path. The
Belgian is able to control the ball under pressure from Per Mertesacker
but does so with his hand, resulting in Arsenal being awarded a
free-kick.
17'
Slightly sloppy play by Chelsea deep inside their own half of the pitch
almost results in David Luiz being closed down by Lacazette, but just
as the Frenchman's about to poke the ball away from him, the defender is
able to knock it back to Courtois.
Bellerín
Yellow Card
15'
Ouch! Bellerin quickly becomes the second player to enter the referee's
book after catching Alonso with a late sliding challenge as the Chelsea
wing-back tried to break down the left flank.
14'
The resulting free-kick is sent short before Monreal fires a great
cross into the heart of the penalty area, where it looks set to find
Lacazette but is well dealt with by Gary Cahill under pressure.
Azpilicueta
Yellow Card
13'
Victor Moses cuts inside and tries to take on a group of Arsenal
players, but he loses out and allows the Gunners to counter quickly.
Lacazette bursts through the middle of the pitch on a great run before
being closed down by Cesar Azpilicueta, who cynically drags down the
Frenchman and gives away a free-kick before being booked.
12'
After a tough opening 12 minutes, Chelsea are finally able to string
together a decent string of passes. Cesc Fabregas then fires a long ball
forward and into the path of Pedro, who manages to get a boot on the
pass but can't control it fully before being flagged offside.
10'
It's been a really good start to the game by Arsenal, who are
comfortably bossing possession. Once again, they move the ball around
quickly before Iwobi skips towards goal, but he's closed down by both
Courtois and Marcos Alonso before he can get a shot away.
8'
And now Danny Welbeck goes close! A lovely lofted pass from Granit
Xhaka flies over the top of the Chelsea defence and into the penalty
area. It picks out Welbeck, who had made a great run forward, but his
header lacks the power needed to beat Courtois.
7'
Alexandre Lacazette goes close! Alex Iwobi dances his way into the
left-hand side of the Chelsea box on a wonderful run as he easily gets
the better of David Luiz. He heads towards the byline and then fizzes a
pass across the face of goal, where it deflects off Courtois and just
behind Lacazette.
5'
Good play by Mohamed Elneny sees him muscle his way down the left wing
and into a promising position. He then does well to work the ball over
to the right wing and into the feet of Hector Bellerin, who swings in a
low, bouncing cross that's easily collected by Thibaut Courtois.
3'
After a patient start to the game by Chelsea, it's Arsenal who push
forward on the first real attacking move of the game. They work the ball
around nicely before Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to pick out Nacho Monreal
deep down the left flank, but his chipped pass is overhit and bounces
behind for a goal-kick.
1' We're off! Chelsea get us underway, attacking from left to right.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has made just one alteration to
the team that featured in their final pre-season friendly, with new
signing Alvaro Morata making way for Pedro, who has recently returned
from injury.
Arsene Wenger has decided to make four changes to the Arsenal side that
started the 2-1 defeat against Sevilla last weekend, with Rob Holding,
Per Mertesacker, Granit Xhaka and Alex Iwobi coming into the starting
line-up to replace Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Joseph Willock and
Mesut Ozil, respectively.
Chelsea substitutes: Caballero, Christensen, Rudiger, Scott, Musonda, Boga, Morata.
Chelsea XI (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro.
Arsenal substitutes: Ospina, Kolasinac, Willock, Nelson, Maitland-Niles, Walcott, Giroud.
Arsenal XI (3-4-3): Cech; Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal; Bellerin,
Elneny, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Welbeck, Lacazette, Iwobi.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a
look at how the two teams will be lining up this afternoon…
Games between these two sides have always been exciting affairs, but
they took on a new meaning last season. Arsenal’s 3-0 win in September
was the catalyst for Chelsea’s switch to the three-man defence that
brought them so much joy, whilst the Gunners’ victory in the FA Cup
final denied Conte an even better start to his time in England. Which
way will it go today?
Both sides have spent handsomely in an attempt to strengthen their
squads ahead of the new season, and some new faces are set to be on show
today. Almost £150m has brought Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and
Alvaro Morata to the club, whilst Arsenal most notably splashed £46.5m
on Alexandre Lacazette, who starts up front in his first competitive
game in English football.
As for Chelsea, they now face the tough task of improving on what was
an excellent debut season for Antonio Conte. The Italian guided his side
to the Premier League title with a record-breaking 30 victories, but
he’ll be well aware how badly the Blues’ last title defence went. That
started with a defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, and it’s
something Conte will want to avoid as his team go in search of their
seventh top-flight crown.
The FA Cup triumph was the only bright moment in an otherwise deeply
disappointing season for the Gunners, who have to head into the new
campaign without Champions League football for the first time since
1996. A fifth-place finish means they’ll be featuring in the Europa
League instead, and they’ll be desperate to hit the ground running with a
win here today.
The traditional curtain-raiser for the new Premier League season brings
together the two sides that did battle in the final game of the last
campaign, and what a fascinating encounter it’s set to be. Despite most
of the bookies favouring a second Double for league champions Chelsea,
it was Arsenal who came away with a record-breaking 13th FA Cup victory,
making Arsene Wenger the most successful manager in the tournament’s
history.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s
Community Shield clash between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley.
