Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed his first victory over Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho on the 14th attempt as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal gave the FA Cup winners a 1-0 win in Sunday’s Community Shield.
The England international, making his first Gunners’ start since 1 March, netted with a fine strike from the edge of the area on his weaker left foot following an expansive move involving Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott.
The victory was manager Arsene Wenger’s first win over Jose Mourinho at the 14th time of asking, as Arsenal set down a marker for the coming Premier League season with a disciplined display at the national stadium.
The Arsenal back five of new goalkeeper Petr Cech, and defenders Per Mertescaker, Laurent Koscielny, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal seemed to gel immediately, and restricted Chelsea to a couple of half-chances through Ramires and Eden Hazard.
Arsenal could have doubled their lead in the last quarter of the match, but Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made fine stops to deny first Oxlade-Chamberlain and then Aaron Ramsey.
Chelsea looked off the pace and off the boil, with Hazard ineffective and Fabregas anonymous in midfield, and up front Loic Remy and second-half substitute Radamel Falcao were well marshalled by the impressive Koscielny and Mertesacker.
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