Chelsea failed to curb the pre-season talk surrounding an Arsenal title challenge as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to the Gunners in the Community Shield this afternoon.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored at one end while former hero Petr Cech kept the Blues out at the other as Jose Mourinho lost to Arsene Wenger for the first time in his career.
Here, fanatix rates the performance of the Premier League champions in the traditional season curtain-raiser…
GK: Thibaut Courtois – 7/10
Could do nothing to stop Oxlade-Chamberlain’s strike, and kept himself big on a couple of other occasions to prevent the Blues going further behind.
RB: Branislav Ivanovic – 6/10
Chelsea’s new vice-captain already seems to be feeling the pressure of his new leadership role – he has lost even more of his hair! Not his best performance in attack or defence.
CB: John Terry – 7/10
Walcott perhaps started through the middle to expose Terry’s lack of pace, but the Blues skipper was never troubled as he largely bullied his ex-England teammate out of the game.
CB: Gary Cahill – 6/10
Could have done more to cover the struggling Azpilicueta on the left side of Chelsea’s defence, but should be given great credit for playing with a broken nose.
LB: Cesar Azpilicueta – 5/10
Recently described as the best left-back in the Premier League by Mourinho, the Spaniard looked far from it. He didn’t get tight enough to Oxlade-Chamberlain for the goal and was hooked on 69 minutes.
SEE MORE:
Community Shield highlights: Wenger ends Mourinho hoodoo as Gunners win Community Shield
Chelsea squad numbers: Radamel Falcao to take No.9, Juan Cuadrado changed
Premier League predictions: 10 BOLD PREDICTIONS for 2015-16 campaign
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