It has been a mere 34 days since the Premier League season came to a conclusion, 28 days since the FA Cup was played, and 6 days since the Champions League Final. However, with the Community Shield taking place at Wembley Stadium between Arsenal (FA Cup Champions) and Liverpool (EPL Champions), fans know the Premier League is right around the corner. This curtain raiser is 2 weeks before the Premier League is set to kick off due to the international games taking place in between.
Both sets of fans saw some key absences when the teams were announced. Arsenal were without Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, Willian, Mesut Ozil, Shokdran Mustafi, Pablo Mari, and Calum Chambers. Liverpool’s team sheet was without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Xherdan Shaqiri, Joel Matip, Divock Origi, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. With these absences it’s safe to say both teams aren’t at full strength. With Arsenal probably a little worse off than Liverpool.
Even with the weakened teams the game started off pretty lively. Most of Liverpool’s attacks at the beginning went down the left-hand side through the duo of Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane. However, there weren’t many clear-cut chances other than a James Milner header over the bar that instead came from a Neco Williams cross on the right-hand side. This failure of creating clear cut chances would be Liverpool’s downfall throughout the game.
After Liverpool created most of the chances, Arsenal looked lively on the counter. Just 12 minutes in, Arsenal’s main man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put them in front after a brilliant build up that started at the feet of Arsenal’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. A great switch of play from Bukayo Saka found Aubameyang who quickly cut inside on Williams and curled in a beauty to the far post. Absolutely no chance for Alisson.
While this was against the run of play it was a deadly counterattack from Arsenal. This ended up becoming the theme of the game with Liverpool having plenty of possession but not creating any chances with it. Arsenal on the other hand seemed to barely have the ball but were behind Liverpool’s defense time and time again. After a few okay chances for Liverpool and a couple more chances for Arsenal the first half ended with Arsenal still one goal to the good.
As the game went into the second-half Liverpool continued to have most of the possession as Arsenal were happy to sit back on a 1-0 lead. This time around Liverpool looked flat and null of any creativity. They didn’t look like they were going to equalize. The best chance they created in the first 15 minutes was a Robertson through ball to Mane whose effort was saved well by Martinez.
At the 60-minute mark both teams went to their bench. Arsenal brought on Cedric Soares for Hector Bellerin and Liverpool brought on Takumi Minamino and Naby Keita for Williams and Milner. These introductions seemed to change the Liverpool team giving them a spark. Minamino in particular looked very lively after his introduction. He was more creative than any Liverpool player up to that point in the game. Playing neat one twos and being in and around the box causing problems for the Arsenal defense. So, it wasn’t too big a surprise that Minamino was the player to equalize, finding the back of the net for the first time in a Liverpool shirt. He created and scored the chance as his quick flick to Salah on top of the box hit off of Cedric and fell kindly to him on the penalty spot. From there, he comfortably slotted it home past an onrushing Martinez. While a little lucky and a question of a hand ball in the buildup, Liverpool found their equalizer.
For the next ten minutes Liverpool looked the more threatening side as Arsenal started to look a little shaky at the back. Liverpool’s best chance was a floated Robertson cross that Mane did brilliantly to bring down with his chest. His second touch was a little too heavy making his shot an easy save for Martinez. In the final 5 minutes of the game Arsenal had a flurry of attacks. The best was a cross from Cedric that found Joe Willock in the middle of the box where he headed it wide.
As the game ended at one a piece, the game would proceed to a penalty shootout. Jurgen Klopp subbed Rhian Brewster on in the 91st minute of the game. The young striker would end up being the one who missed the decisive spot kick. Having hardly played and possibly not even touched the ball in the run of play, he hit the penalty with power, and it skimmed off the crossbar and over. Arsenal scored all five of their spot kicks, with Aubameyang scoring the fifth and winning penalty.
This is a big boost for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta as they beat last year’s runaway premier league champions who are also one of the favorites to win the Premier League again this year. The big question around Arsenal is if Aubameyang will sign a new contract. If he does, Mikel Arteta has given this Arsenal team an identity that seems to be working. If he doesn’t, and asks to move to a different club, Arsenal could be in trouble. However, with FA Cup and Community Shield trophies being lifted by their main man and captain, it may just be enough to keep him around.
Liverpool and Klopp on the other hand may be a little worried. While this is considered a pre-season tune up, it’s still a chance for silverware that they’ve now lost on penalties two years in a row. The part of the game that might worry Klopp and Liverpool fans the most is the lack of any creativity in the front third of the field. Up until Minamino came in, the good chances and creativity seemed few and far between. Liverpool have also struggled to use their high line as effectively as last season. With the Liverpool team seeming to not be at their best ever since they were officially crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool will have a lot to prove as they face newly promoted Leeds United in two weeks’ time. Klopp and fans alike will hope Liverpool play at the top of their game and start the season running.
After the conclusion of the Community Shield saw the Gunners lift the trophy, all eyes will now be on the start of another Premier League season. A season that’s set to kick off on September 12.