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Arsenal win the first silverware of the new season

By Jocelyn Taub

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Arsenal team celebrate with the trophy following the The FA Community Shield final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Arsenal team celebrate with the trophy following the The FA Community Shield final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal defeated Chelsea in a penalty shoot out to win the Community Shield as Arsene Wenger got the better of Antonio Conte for the second consecutive time

Arsenal came from behind to defeat Chelsea on penalties and pick up the first trophy of the new Premier League season. The match finished 1-1 in regulation and then went to penalties. The Gunners scored all four of their shots while Chelsea made a mess of theirs.

The last time the two clubs met at Wembley at the end of May Arsenal won the FA Cup Trophy 2-1.

The Community Shield is the annual kickoff to the new season and pits the league winners against the FA Cup champions. Some fans consider it a glorified friendly. The the winner, however, does receive silverware and the psychological advantage heading in to the new campaign.

Arsenal were without a number of first team players including Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny. New signing Alexandre Lacazette was partnered with Danny Welbeck up front.

The Chelsea lineup was similar to last year’s with Pedro and Michy Batshuayi given starts.

Arsenal looked the sharper of the two sides from the start, but it was the Blues that made a breakthrough first when Victor Moses scored early in the second half.

Chelsea held off the Gunners and looked to be in control until Pedro was shown a red card in the 80th minute for a reckless challenge on Mohamed Elneny.

Two minutes later it was all even. Granit Xhaka took the resulting free-kick and new signing, Sead Kolasinac, rose to head the ball past Thibaut Courtois.

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The match was to be decided on penalties using the new ABBA format

Despite the man advantage and five added minutes of injury time, Arsenal could not find a winner in regulation. It was time for penalties.

For the first time in English football, the shootout used the ABBA format. It was designed to not give one team more of an advantage.

Apparently it was Arsenal that were less confused by the new arrangement. Theo Walcott, Nacho Monreal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all confidently put the ball in the back of Chelsea’s net.

Gary Cahill scored Chelsea’s first but after that it was all downhill. Courtois stepped up to take the Blues’ second penalty and the ball is possibly still orbiting the universe. Next up was new £60m signing Alvaro Morata who dragged his shot wide.

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Olivier Giroud went to the line with the opportunity to give Arsenal the victory. His left footed shot sent Courtois the wrong way.

It in the end it was Arsenal celebrating in front of Chelsea for the second time in three months.

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