FA Community Shield 2015: Live Stream, Final Predictions for Arsenal vs. Chelsea
Arsenal take on Chelsea in the 2015 FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
The curtain-raiser pits the Premier League champions against the FA Cup winners six days before the start of the new domestic season.
While the game is little more than a friendly, the match will see the revival of the rivalry between managers Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.
To ensure you don't miss any of the engrossing action, here is all the scheduling information you need, as well as a prediction for how the match will pan out.
Date: Sunday, Aug. 2
Time: 3 p.m. (BST)/10 a.m. (ET)
Live Stream: BT Sport App (UK only); FOX Soccer 2Go (USA Only)
TV Info: BT Sport 2 and HD (UK only); FOX Sports 1 (USA Only)
Wenger has never beaten Mourinho in 13 matches, and the Frenchman will surely be desperate to outwit the Special One, though he would not likely admit it.
The pair have already traded barbs ahead of the showpiece, though Mourinho has since said facing Wenger and his team holds no special significance for him.
Per BBC Sport, he said: "It doesn't matter about Arsenal, it doesn't matter about the manager. I never made it an explosion of happiness or special pride in my victories over Arsenal. I do not make a drama if one day we lose."
In response, Wenger quipped: "I'll leave your love story with him to continue without interfering. I wouldn't like to interfere in that."
With the game representing the first opportunity for silverware of the season, expect sparks to fly on the touchline should any controversial incidents arise as both managers reveal their desperation to win.
A key factor in the game could be Petr Cech, who will be making his debut for Arsenal and facing his former team for the first time.
The 'keeper has already impressed throughout pre-season. Sports journalist Julian Taylor noted during Arsenal's Emirates Cup win over Wolfsburg that Cech had already established himself comfortably in the Gunners' back line:
The 33-year-old's arrival gives Arsenal a new-found solidity where once there was vulnerability—a weakness that was so often their downfall against their Premier League rivals.
With Arsenal yet to sign a new centre-forward and Alexis Sanchez enjoying an extended rest following his Copa America exertions, expect Theo Walcott to play a key role in the Gunners attack alongside Olivier Giroud.
Wenger's side have cause to be optimistic after a strong pre-season that has seen them win the Barclays Asia Trophy and the Emirates Cup, the latter including a 6-0 thrashing of Lyon.
However, Chelsea will surely be as imposing as ever with the likes of Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.
Their effective ability to control and kill games and ruthlessly finish chances make them just as difficult a proposition as last season, and the Blues will without doubt be in contention for the Premier League title next May.
Chelsea have won two penalty shootouts against Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona this summer, so expect them to triumph if the teams find themselves level after 90 minutes.
However, successive FA Cup wins and the recruitment of a born winner in Cech have produced an overwhelmingly positive atmosphere in the Gunners dressing room.
Arsenal are beginning to show they need not fear any of their rivals, so they may well record an historic victory over Chelsea on Sunday ahead of what is likely to be their strongest league campaign in years.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
