True talk about the community game

The FA Community Shield may not be the favourite chocolate in the selection box, but it would be rude not to want grab the first trophy of the season. It is the proverbial ‘curtain-raiser’, and Wembley winks to reminds us that the real business is just a week away.

As a result, the Community Shield is generally a wonderfully relaxed day out, with little riding on the outcome – but a quiet sense of satisfaction reserved for the victors.

The venue is rather familiar to the reigning champions. After Antonio Conte’s men have played Tottenham on 20 August, a remarkable four of our last 11 domestic games will have been staged at Wembley.

Not every generation of Chelsea fans has had such a regular acquaintance with the national stadium. Supporters waited 21 years for their first experience of what was originally the Empire Stadium, built in 1923. It would be another 22 years after those back-to-back wartime cup finals of 1944 and 1945 before the Blues were back at Wembley. Best never to take it for granted.     

KEY STAT: Chelsea have won 19 of our 31 games in all competitions at Wembley Stadium (including one on penalties).

Still, few clubs include the Shield in their headline list of honours won and even the FA are relaxed about this match. They recently reaffirmed their 2009 position, that the annual pre-season showpiece should be considered a friendly, including for disciplinary purposes. As a result, Conte can call on last season’s right wing-back Victor Moses, and Arsenal may use centre-back Laurent Koscielny.

It is probably not what either manager would prefer, given the choice: Moses will instead serve his single match suspension next weekend against Burnley, while Arsene Wenger will have to cope without his captain for two top-tier games.

Nor do suspensions result from a straightforward red card during the Wembley showpiece. You may recall Branislav Ivanovic seeing red against Man City in 2012, but being free to play in the league the following weekend. Wigan are bound to remember as he netted inside two minutes of that match.