SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015 SPORTS Arsenal seek title proof in Chelsea encounter Community Shield LONDON: Arsenal’s readiness to mount a sus- thing to go by. Citing the arrivals of Mesut Ozil “For 90 minutes the fans will support us. For tained title challenge in 2015-16 will be tested at and Alexis Sanchez, Mourinho claimed that any- sure, they will be on our side. Before and after Wembley today when they face Premier League one who totted up Arsenal’s transfer expendi- the game, I hope and I’m sure they will give Petr champions Chelsea in the Community Shield. ture over the past few years would be in for a respect.” To date, Cech is the only new player Arsene Wenger’s team finished last season at “surprise” and said that they were “more than that Arsenal have signed, but they announced a gallop, winning 20 of their final 26 games in all ready” to challenge for the title. on Friday that forward Theo Walcott and mid- competitions and retaining the FA Cup by Wenger, whose tetchy relationship with fielder Santi Cazorla have penned new contracts. swamping Aston Villa 4-0 in a one-sided final. Mourinho spilled over into a touchline scuffle at Having finished last season with a flurry of They have carried that momentum into pre- Stamford Bridge last season, responded in san- goals and scored the winner against Wolfsburg season, winning all four of their matches, and guine fashion. in the Emirates Cup friendly tournament last having finally addressed their longstanding “I think what you want is not to listen too weekend, Walcott will hope to start up front goalkeeper problem by signing Petr Cech from much to what people say,” said the Frenchman, against Chelsea. Chelsea, optimism is abundant. “We want to win who has not beaten Mourinho in 13 attempts. Sanchez will not feature, having been grant- the league, of course we do,” midfielder Jack “Because sometimes in the same week I get two ed time off after scoring the decisive penalty in Wilshere told the Arsenal website ahead of the different reproaches: one, I don’t spend enough Chile’s Copa America triumph against Argentina English football season’s traditional opening fix- and one, too much.” on home soil, while Danny Welbeck remains out ture. “We feel we’ve been together a few years With the experienced Cech between the with a knee problem. Arsenal’s supporters will now, we’ve brought in world-class players who posts, Arsenal look much more robust defensive- hope for glimpses of young attacking trio Alex have had time to settle, we’ve added a world- ly, the Czech international having been allowed Iwobi, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Chuba Akpom, all class ‘keeper with all of his experience-he’s been to join a major rival due to his close relationship of whom have impressed in warm-up matches. there and he’s done it; he’s won everything-so with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Mourinho revealed on Friday that centre- we really feel we’re in a strong position.” Cech, 33, spent 11 hugely successful years at back Gary Cahill and last season’s top scorer Arsenal will be wary of false dawns, having Chelsea before being dislodged by Thibaut Diego Costa will be fit to play despite sustaining dispatched then-champions Manchester City 3-0 Courtois last season, winning four league titles injuries on the club’s pre-season tour of the in last season’s Community Shield, only to finish and the 2012 Champions League, and former United States. 12 points below Chelsea in the title race. team-mate Branislav Ivanovic has urged the Radamel Falcao is expected to make his first But Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho appears club’s fans not to jeer him. domestic appearance for Chelsea since signing to consider them genuine contenders, if the “I hope they will give respect to him because on loan from Monaco following a torrid season comments he has launched in the direction of he deserves it,” the Serbian defender told the at Manchester United that saw him score only the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks are any- Evening Standard newspaper. four goals. —AFP United bank on GERMANY: Stuttgart’s Argentinian defender Emiliano Insua (right) and Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Jesus Navas vie for the ball during the friendly football match. —AFP Schweinsteiger City go down in Stuttgart LONDON: The signing of Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich was a massive STUTTGART: Manchester City conceded Toure and City’s South American players statement of intent by Manchester United. four goals in 36 hapless minutes yesterday did not feature at all. Pellegrini withdrew Not since Roy Keane swaggered round the Old as they slumped to a 4-2 defeat by VfB captain Vincent Kompany at halftime, Trafford pitch from 1993-2005 have United had a mid- Stuttgart in a pre-season friendly. The replacing him with fellow Belgian Jason field enforcer with the skill, power and strength of Bundesliga club took full advantage of a Denayer in a reshuffle that saw Ivory Coast character to run the team. shambolic defensive display by the visitors striker Wilfried Bony replaced by 18-year- The 31-year-old Schweinsteiger, a World Cup win- in the first half. old Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho. ner and serial trophy accumulator with Bayern, has all Serbian midfielder Filip Kostic struck Argentine Bruno Zuculini also came on the attributes to emulate the charismatic Irishman. after 14 minutes and further goals followed for Evans and City hit back with two goals That is if United get the real Schweinsteiger, not from midfielder Daniel Didavi after 30 and in the final eight minutes. The lively the injury-prone model who has not started regularly fellow German striker Daniel Ginczek who Iheanacho grabbed the first and late substi- netted twice in the 35th and 36th. tute Edin Dzeko notched the second, the for Bayern in recent seasons and may be distracted by A week before the start of the Premier Bosnian target man converting from close his high-profile relationship with Serbian tennis play- League season, City manager Manuel range in what may be his final appearance er Ana Ivanovic. Pellegrini selected a strong, if adventurous, before joining AS Roma. According to United manager Louis van Gaal has no doubt lineup in which 20-year-old George Evans media reports, the two clubs have agreed a about the German after working with him at Bayern. was chosen to hold the midfield behind fee of 14 million pounds ($21.88 million) for “Bastian is, of course, no stranger to me,” the five forwards. Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Dzeko. —Reuters Dutchman said. “I am truly delighted he is joining Manchester United. “His record speaks for itself; he has won every honour at club level and was a major part of the successful Germany World Cup-winning Liverpool face devilish team last summer. “Bastian is the ultimate professional and there is no start to new season doubting his talent and his ability to control games. “He brings a wealth of experience and is an excellent LONDON: Liverpool manager Brendan of the club’s much-discussed transfer com- addition to our squad.” Rodgers could find himself under pressure mittee. Schweinsteiger has taken a gamble by leaving sooner than expected with a host of new Christian Benteke, a bullish and highly Bayern with whom he won eight Bundesliga titles and signings to bed in and a devilish run of fix- mobile targetman, has been poached from the Champions League. tures to kick off the new Premier League Aston Villa to add some brawn to a “I am very happy to be here and to play for Man campaign. There were rumblings of discon- Liverpool squad that at times looked light- United,” Schweinsteiger said.”It is a big honor. It’s a tent among supporters after the club fin- weight by comparison to their rivals last new step in my life. I want to win titles, it’s easy. ished last season in abject fashion with an year. Brazil forward Roberto Firmino was embarrassing 6-1 defeat at Stoke City to recruited for a substantial fee from Manchester United is used to that and I am too, so end a dismal streak that dropped them out Hoffenheim and comes with lots of prom- that’s my goal.” United badly need a midfield power- of Champions League contention. ise, while James Milner adds mobility and house. Rodgers came under heavy fire from a experience to the midfield and Nathaniel Michael Carrick has shouldered the burden in disgruntled fanbase, who questioned his Clyne fills a vacancy at right back. recent seasons but, though a highly intelligent player credentials following a third trophyless sea- There has also been substantial change and cultured passer, he lacks the physicality needed son at the helm, but he lived to fight anoth- amongst Rodgers’ coaching ranks with for- to dominate Premier League matches as Keane used er day after an end-of-season review by the mer right-hand man Colin Pascoe dis- to do. club’s American owners. missed as assistant manager along with Schweinsteiger, supported by Carrick and fellow Doubts about his position, however, first-team coach Mike Marsh. new signing Morgan Schneiderlin, has the ability to could resurface if Liverpool endure the sort Sean O’Driscoll, who enjoyed mixed for- fill that role. With Wayne Rooney freed to play as a of miserable start to the season they had tunes in managerial stints at Bournemouth, central striker rather than helping out an overrun mid- last year.