Arsenal and Chelsea get the new English football season underway at Wembley on Sunday as they battle it out for the Community Shield.
Neither side have been too busy in the transfer window, with Arsenal bringing in Petr Cech from the Premier League champions while Jose Mourinho has added Asmir Begovic and Radamel Falcao.
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While the new Gunners signing is expected to start, Chelsea have been handed a double fitness boost with the news that both Gary Cahill and Diego Costa have been passed fit to play.
That will likely result in Falcao starting on the bench, but Mourinho has been keen to insist this summer that he is confident that he can help the Colombian score goals regularly again.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger is expected to be without Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck as they continue to struggle with injury, but the Frenchman will be without Alexis Sanchez who isn’t scheduled to return after his participation in the Copa America.
Nevertheless, the clash reignites the rivalry between the two managers who have often found themselves in a war of words through the media.
Their feud threatened to boil over last year, but they will likely be well behaved on Sunday as they focus on getting their respective seasons off to a positive start.
Victory in the season opener hasn’t necessarily translated into success in the Premier League campaign, but a win over a local rival will be seen as a crucial boost for morale ahead of a long season ahead.
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