Arsenal 1 – 1 Chelsea (4-1 Penalties)
Arsenal won Sunday’s Community Shield after Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Alvaro Morata missed penalties in a shootout at Wembley.
The season curtain-raiser between Premier League champions Chelsea and FA Cup winners Arsenal finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.
An English football first followed as the ‘ABBA’ penalty shootout was deployed and the Gunners prevailed 4-1 to extend their winning record at Wembley to nine straight games, including two in penalty shootouts.
The ‘ABBA’ system is based on the format used in tennis tie-breaks, with the team taking the first kick in each pair of kicks alternating.
Courtois took Chelsea’s second kick, seeking to equalise, and blasted over before Morata, the substitute striker, fired wide.
That gave Arsenal the initiative. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored before Olivier Giroud netted the decisive strike.
Arsenal celebrated and Chelsea looked on, just as they had done in May when the Gunners beat them in the FA Cup final.
It had been an even contest.
Victor Moses’ strike one minute into the second half was cancelled out by Sead Kolasinac’s header eight minutes from time. Both benefited from defensive lapses.
The Gunners’ equaliser came moments after Pedro was sent off for a tackle from behind on Mohamed Elneny and was no less than Arsenal deserved after Alexandre Lacazette hit the post in the first half.
It is seven years since the Community Shield winners last went on to win the Premier League.
Manchester United were the triumphant team then and now Jose Mourinho’s side and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are seeking to succeed Chelsea as English champions.
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