The first half goal has given Arsene Wenger his first win against Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho.
The Community Shield which is a champion’s cup between the winners of the Premiere league and the FA Cup champions see Arsenal winning its first major game against Chelsea in almost a decade.
Bellerin tussles with Matic during the early stages
Mourinho, in turn, dodged a ball thrown at him from the Wembley stands and handed over his runners-up medal to a young Arsenal fan. He understandably does not want a reminder of losing to Wenger for the first time.
Dressed in tracksuit bottoms and a training-t-shirt, Mourinho clearly wanted to give the impression he is still very much in pre-season mode and will no doubt place little significance in his side’s defeat.
But Wenger, suited and booted as normal, will hope his team draw belief from this result and there can surely be no more excuses for Arsenal not to challenge for the title for an entire season.
Other than the fact he was wearing a different goalkeeper jersey, Sunday’s curtain-raiser was all-too familiar for Cech on his Arsenal debut as he kept a clean sheet and picked up yet another winners’ medal.
Chelsea fans had become used to seeing Cech put in unbeatable performances for their team over the past 11 years, but the Arsenal supporters are clearly delighted with their side’s summer capture.
Courtois looks on as Oxlade-Chamerlain's shot curls past him
Other than regretting the decision to allow Cech to join Chelsea’s rivals, Mourinho may also rue the fact he was not successful in getting match-winner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as part of the deal.
Wenger rejected Mourinho’s request to take Oxlade-Chamberlain in the opposite direction and that looks like a wise decision, given the England international’s lively Wembley performance that he capped with an excellent goal.
The decisive moment came in the 24th minute, when Oxlade-Chamberlain collected a pass from Theo Walcott on the right, cut inside and rifled a left-foot shot into the net that Thibaut Courtois was powerless to stop.
Courtois punches clear under pressure from Walcott
Wenger clenched his fists in celebration and no wonder, as it was Arsenal’s first goal in 506 minutes against Chelsea.
There was no Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal as he returns to training this week, following an extended break after the Copa America, and the prospect of the Chile international on the left and an in-form Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right will be mouth-watering for Wenger.
Much like in the game against Manchester City that seemed to herald a change in thinking from Wenger last season, Arsenal were prepared to sit back and allow their opponents to have the ball before attempting to break.
Francis Coquelin carried out another outstanding screening job and Cech got through the first half against his former employers without having to make a save.
Cech clears a ball into the box against his former club
Ramires sent a shot wide and again failed to test Cech when he really should have levelled the scores. Loic Remy, starting because Diego Costa was once again feeling his hamstring, picked out the Brazilian with a brilliant cross, but he headed wastefully over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
Mourinho clearly wanted to see more purpose to Chelsea’s attacks and he sent on Falcao to replace Remy for the second half. There was also a shift in formation, as Cesc Fabregas dropped back into a deeper midfield role and Eden Hazard, who had been quiet during the first period, moved into the middle behind Falcao.
It was a typically superbly weighted ball from Fabregas that put Hazard through on goal, but, with only Cech to beat, the forward scooped his effort high over the bar.
Hazard blazes a good chance well over the bar
While Arsenal fans craved a victory over Chelsea and Mourinho, they also wanted to see a significant Cech save and it finally arrived with just over 20 minutes remaining after Coquelin had fouled Hazard to concede a free-kick.
Ivanovic stood directly in front of Cech as substitute Oscar weighed up the set piece, but it did not stop the 33-year-old making a diving save to his right to maintain Arsenal’s advantage.
The Arsenal fans behind Cech’s goal greeted the save like their team had scored and followed up with a chant of ‘Cech’s a Gooner’. Even a routine catch from substitute Kurt Zouma’s header prompted celebrations.
Ivanovic headed a Fabregas free-kick over with only two minutes remaining and Wenger had his victory. Mourinho will already be counting down the days to the first Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on September 19. He might even deem the occasion important enough to dig out his suit.
