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Arsenal v Chelsea
FA Community Shield
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Sunday, August 7, 2005
Kick-off: 3pm
REFEREE:Howard Webb(Rotherham)
By Chris Harris
There are no points at stake in Cardiff on Sunday but the Community Shield
still holds plenty of significance for Arsene Wenger.
The Arsenal manager has a proud record against Chelsea with just three Cup
defeats in 27 meetings. Another positive result will lay down a marker for
Arsenal's quest to wrench the title from Chelsea's grasp this season.
"Sunday is an important game for us because we want to see where we stand
tactically and technically," said Wenger at his pre-match press conference.
"Chelsea have won the championship so they are the team to beat but we start
again from scratch. One year ago it was us, last year it was them, next year
it will be somebody else.
"The most important factor is the quality of the game and the players and the
spirit, but we have a good team and are in a position to rival Chelsea.
"Last season we had two interesting games and we never suffered quality-wise
compared to Chelsea. I don’t for a second think we will on Sunday."
Victory is hardly a good omen at the traditional curtain-raiser to the new
campaign. In the past 20 years, only Manchester United (twice) and Liverpool
have won the Shield and gone on to clinch the title in the same season.
Having said that, an Arsenal win may dispel the doubters who question their
capacity to bridge the gap with Chelsea after selling Patrick Vieira this
summer.
Wenger has every faith in his team to adapt to life without their former
captain.
"Patrick is a big name, we lost a big name, but when he came here he had no
name and nobody knew him. I have players at this club who are not big names
but they can make it because they have the quality.
"We also have experienced players. Jens Lehmann, you cannot say he is a
beginner, Lauren, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, Gilberto, Robert
Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp. We are already at 10.
"We have a choice, we either take it as a challenge to become stronger together
or we feel sorry for ourselves and we have no chance. There is no other
option but to say 'let's come together and show our strength'. We can be
stronger as a unit."
Henry will lead Arsenal out at the Millennium Stadium and Wenger believes his
new skipper is the ideal man for the job.
"It is unusual for a striker [to be captain] but he is a quality player. He is
a world class player, respected everywhere and he has always shown a big
commitment in his statements to the Club. He is the first guy you put on the
team sheet.
"He was already captain for some games last year so he could already smell what
could happen."
Wenger has virtually a fully-fit squad to pick from on Sunday. Sol Campbell is
still recovering from a calf injury but Gilberto, yet to play since returning
from the Confederations Cup, could be among the substitutes.
Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Gael Clichy all emerged unscathed from
their first pre-season appearance in midweek and will all be considered for
selection.
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