Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sole strike was enough for FA Cup holders, Arsenal, to defeat Premier League champions, Chelsea, in the Community Shield encounter at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
A week heated with exchanges between Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and rival Jose Mourinho ended with the former coming up tops at the 14th time of asking.
The Gunners had gone over 500 minutes without netting against the Blues until Oxlade-Chamberlain opened the scoring in the first half, shifting the ball unto his left foot and rifling a thunderous effort into the top corner.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech lined up against his former club following a £10 million summer move across London, while Theo Walcott, who earlier in the week signed a lucrative deal, led the line for the Gunners.
Chelsea started with their familiar lineup with the only absentee being Diego Costa missing out with an injury.
Nigeria winger, Victor Moses, replaced Chelsea skipper John Terry late in the game while compatriot, John Obi Mikel, was an unused substitute.
The game was not devoid of drama and controversies as both managers refused shaking hands before and after the game.
Speaking after the match, Wenger said “We have suffered physically today and the pitch was not great.
“But overall it’s good because in pre-season we have been solid defensively. Pre-season has gone quite well.
“We have no big injuries at the moment apart from Jack Wilshere who we lost yesterday.”
Mourinho threw away his Community Shield medal after his side’s 1-0 defeat.
The former Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss threw the medal into the crowd before walking down the Wembley tunnel with Bobby Gill, aged 10, catching it.
“It’s the medal for the loser… it’s a good memory for him,” Mourinho told BT Sport.
“Chelsea was the best team, had the more initiative, had good control, good ball possession.
“But you know it is that moment of the season where everyone is behind – the energy, the intensity to turn results is more difficult because people is not sharp, and don’t have intensity.
“Arsenal defended with a very low block, they defended with 10 men they put everybody in front of their line with very good organisation so… congratulations.”
