Arsenal will fancy their chances in curtain raiser

The yearly curtain raiser and glorified friendly that is the FA Community Shield takes place at Wembley Stadium this Saturday afternoon. Fresh from winning the FA Cup in their last outing, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will have a spring in their step having beaten Liverpool in their last head-to-head. Having said that the Premier League champions will be strong favourites, taking out the recent loss they have been superior to the North Londoners on and off the pitch in recent years and will want to start their title defence season in good fashion. We may see a lot of player rotation in this fixture, and we all know Jurgen Klopp has not taken English cup competitions all that seriously in the past.

Background

These two have identical records in this match, winning 15 out of 22 appearances in the Community Shield. They are often entertaining affairs with both teams finding the net in 17 of the 28 editions of the game. Both teams have scored in the first half of three of the last four matches between Arsenal and Liverpool, so hold onto your hats.

Recruitment

There has not too much to shout about for either side in the short time they have had in the transfer window so far, the deadline is October 5. Arsenal’s main pull is Willian from Chelsea, the Brazilian will add experience in attacking areas with knowhow of winning trophies almost every season with the Blues, a positive influence around the dressing room with budding young guns like Joe Willock, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli expected to be more involved this term.

The Reds have brought in left back cover in the form of Konstantinos Tsimikas from Olympiakos for £11.7million, he will predominantly be understudy to Andy Robertson with the move freeing up the option to send exciting talent Neco Williams out on loan.

Loan rangers

The Gunners welcome back William Saliba into their ranks, the centre back who they signed from Saint-Etienne for £27million last summer finally joins up with the squad having spent the season back on loan with his previous employers in Ligue 1. It will be interesting to see how he gets on in Arteta’s three at the back system that worked so well at the back end of 2019/20.

Klopp has options in returning players like Harry Wilson, Ovie Ejaria and Taiwo Awoniyi after spells at Bournemouth, Reading and Mainz respectively. Wilson typically plays off the right flank with a rifle of a left foot, could add to the team’s choices at dead ball situations. Ejaria is a bustling central midfielder who could add respite to the tireless three-man midfield, however, is likely to go back out on loan. Awoniyi is a striker who is similar to Ejaria in the pecking order, we are more likely to see an opportunity for coveted England youth international Rhian Brewster, who has bagged three goals in the club’s last two friendlies.

Liverpool are the stronger side despite finishing last season slowly and should cause Arsenal heaps of problems even with a second string.

Arsenal – Liverpool Betting Tip

Liverpool Draw No Bet + Liverpool to Lift the Trophy with Betway at odds of 4/5 or 1.78.

Bet Liverpool Draw No Bet + Liverpool to Lift the Trophy on Betway