Though technically an exhibition, both Chelsea and Arsenal will want to kick off their seasons in style by winning the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on Sunday morning.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Each and every year, the betting proceedings in the Community Shield are virtually impossible due to how close the teams usually are. Arsenal, the FA Cup winner, is the slight underdog in this matchup at PK +113 on the Asian Handicap, while Chelsea, the Premier League winner, is at +144 on the three-way line.
The total is generally just a tad higher in the curtain-raiser than it would be in the EPL, though this duel is still a tad low at 2.5 with -117 vig on the under.
KEY INJURIES
The Blues didn't make it through the preseason without suffering two important, though relatively minor injuries. We can't imagine that either Gary Cahill or Diego Costa will end up playing in this match due to the fact that they suffered minor knocks right at the end of the International Champions Cup in the United States.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Petr was an unbelievable professional last year. When you get left out of the team, it can be hard to accept, but when he came in, he was exceptional. He deserves a lot of credit for that. We understand he wants to play first-team football, but nobody wants to see him leave the club." – Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho on Petr Cech, who transferred to Arsenal this offseason after over a decade with the Blues
RECENT FORM
Arsenal has had a tremendous go of it in the preseason. The team hasn't played the toughest docket in the world, but beating Olympic Lyon 6-0 and Wolfsburg 1-0 in preseason friendlies helped wrap up a perfect 5-0-0 preseason against all clubs.
Chelsea actually didn't fare that well in the International Champions Cup, much to the chagrin of its supporters. Yes, the team technically was only beaten once by the New York Red Bulls, but needing penalties against both PSG and Barcelona weren't fantastic results.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Community Shield is always a crapshoot, but there is generally a sense that the underdog team has to have his day in a one-game tournament such as this.
Two years ago, it was Manchester City which sent a message to Chelsea in a 3-2 victory at the Community Shield. The year prior, Manchester United was having none of it against the Citizens after coughing up the Premier League title on the last day of the season months before.
Now, could it be Chelsea who ends up falling victim to an up and coming team?
Arsenal now has its problems at the back figured out with Cech, and he has a lot to prove in this one against the team which basically relegated him to second-team duties unceremoniously last season.
The Gunners were pushed around by their fellow Londoners last year, and they will want to set the tone right away this season. They had the better of the preseasons, albeit against weaker opponents than Chelsea went up against, but we feel like this match means more to them than it does to the Blues.
Particularly if both Cahill and Costa end up out of this match, there is a lot of value on playing Arsenal at Wembley.
Arsenal 2, Chelsea 0
BookMaker has live Community Shield odds for every clash of the season. BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Chelsea opened as a +144 favorite. The first offering of the total came in at 2.5. Live wagering during the match offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer match now!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between Chelsea and Arsenal will take place on Sunday, August 2, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.
