The new English football season kicks off at Wembley on Sunday afternoon when FA Cup winners Arsenal face Premier League champions Chelsea in the Community Shield.

The Gunners are the current holders of the silverware after beating Manchester City by three goals to nil twelve months ago – the thirteen time they have won in this, the season’s traditional curtain raiser.

Arsenal thumped Aston Villa 4-0 at Wembley just over two months ago, and have lifted both the Barclay’s Asia Trophy and the Emirates Cup in preseason.

Their only injury concerns ahead of this game are Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck though David Ospina and Alexis Sanchez will play no part having arrived to preseason training late following their involvement in the Copa America.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech, who signed for the North London club back in June is set to make his debut against his former club, for whom he racked up close to five hundred appearances in over a decade at Stamford Bridge.

Olivier Giroud is priced at 7.0 (6/1) to open the scoring, with Theo Walcott a 9.5 (17/2) shot with Paddy Power.

Arsenal are 2.9 (19/10) to win the match in ninety minutes, with Chelsea favourites at 2.6 (8/5) with Bet 365, who have the draw at 3.5 (5/2).

Jose Mourinho’s men go into this game on the back of penalty-shout out victories over Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain in the International Champions Cup.

They won last season’s Premier League title by eight points, and are looking for their fifth Shield victory, and fourth since 2000.

Diego Costa and Gary Cahill are both doubts ahead of the game but could be fit in time to feature, while new signing Radamel Falcao could start upfront.

The Colombia international is 7.5 (13/2) to get the first goal of the game with Bet 365, with Costa favourite at 7.0 (6/1).

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Arsenal, and have kept clean sheets in six of those games, including the last five in a row.

With that in mind, you may be tempted to back the Blues to keep a clean sheet this time around at 3.3 (23/10) with Coral.