THE English football season returns tomorrow when Premier League champions Chelsea meet FA Cup winners Arsenal in the FA Community Shield at Wembley.

The match comes 64 days after the Gunners ended the domestic season with their 4-0 FA Cup win over Aston Villa.

Neither side have added significantly to their squads over the summer – though goalkeeper Petr Cech will make his Arsenal debut against his old side.

Chelsea could hand a start to new signing Radamel Falcao.

Falcao, 29, spent last season with Manchester United but endured a poor campaign, scoring just four goals in 29 games. He signed a season-long loan deal from Monaco earlier this summer, while Chelsea’s only other signing is goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Stoke.

He replaces Cech, 33, who played 494 games in 11 seasons at Stamford Bridge before his £10m move in June.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that striker Diego Costa (hamstring) and defender Gary Cahill (nose) are both fit after pre-season injury concerns.

Tomorrow sees two Premier League giants collide, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hoping to beat a side managed by Jose Mourinho for the first time.

Wenger is yet to taste victory against Mourinho in 13 attempts and the two managers have already been involved in one disagreement this summer.

Mourinho suggested that Arsenal had spent more money than Chelsea over the last few years, with Wenger responding by saying he “doesn’t listen to what people think or say”.

Yesterday Mourinho repeated his belief that Arsenal can mount a serious title challenge this season but played down his rivalry with Wenger.

He said: “It doesn’t matter about Arsenal, it doesn’t matter about the manager.

“I never made it an explosion of happiness or special pride in my victories over Arsenal. I don’t make a drama if one day we lose.”

Arsenal – who have not scored against Chelsea in over eight hours of play – did win last season’s Community Shield – beating Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley.

Arsenal have been in fine form this summer, and have already won two pre-season tournaments.

First they beat Everton in Singapore before thrashing Lyon and beating Bundesliga runners-up Wolfsburg to win the Emirates Cup at their home ground.

A highlight has been the emergence of youngsters Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Alex Iwobi – nephew of former Bolton and Hull midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha.

Chelsea have spent a mixed pre-season in the United States.

Begovic was beaten four times in a “tired” display as Jose Mourinho’s side lost 4-2 to New York Red Bulls, before draws with Paris St-Germain and Barcelona – both of which the Blues won on penalty shootouts.

Chelsea begin their Premier League defence against Swansea on Saturday, August 8, while Arsenal face West Ham at 1:30PM the next day. — BBC Sport

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