Arsenal shock EPL champs Chelsea in Community Shield clash

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed victory over Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho at the 14th attempt as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal gave the FA Cup winners a 1-0 win in the Community Shield

London: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed victory over Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho at the 14th attempt as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal gave the FA Cup winners a 1-0 win in the Community Shield clash yesterday.


The Arsenal team celebrates with the Community Shield at Wembley in London yesterday. Pics/AFP 

The England midfielder struck in the 24th minute at a sun-soaked Wembley Stadium to break Mourinho's longstanding hold over his French rival and give Arsenal hope of a sustained assault on Chelsea's Premier League title.

While Chelsea improved in the second half, they could not find a way past their former goalkeeper Petr Cech, who registered a clean sheet as his new club secured their 13th outright Community Shield.

We look dangerous: Wenger
"It's good because in pre-season we were very solid defensively, so it's a good base to go into the championship. We have good spirit and I believe we look dangerous," Wenger told BT Sport.


Arsenal's English midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain jumps to celebrate scoring against Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium in London yesterday 

Wenger will be mindful that a 3-0 win over Manchester City in last season's Community Shield was not followed by a convincing title bid, but with Cech already looking at home and Mourinho no longer able to boast a spotless record against him, he will approach next weekend's opening league fixtures with pre-season belief
fully intact. Mourinho protested that Chelsea had been the best team.

"Arsenal defended with 10 players, they put everybody in front of their own line and had good organisation. Congratulations to them. They had a couple of chances in counter-attacks, but we had ours in organised football," he said.

Standing ovation for Cech
Questions about the reaction that Cech would receive from the fans of his old club were answered quickly, a standing ovation greeting him as he jogged over to the goal at the Chelsea end prior to kick-off.

Theo Walcott created Arsenal's opener with a pass wide to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who cut inside Cesar Azpilicueta and lashed home a left-foot for Arsenal's first goal against Chelsea in 506 minutes.

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