FA cup Champions, Arsenal beat English Premier league champions Liverpool at the season opening Community Shield match at the Wembley stadium, after Rhian Brewster’s penalty miss for Liverpool’s 3rd penalty kick after both sides could not be separated at a goal apiece after regulation time.
Arsenal had started a perfect afternoon at Wembley after Captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s superb 12th minute opener for Gunners gave them a lead which they held on to almost the last quarter of the game. A Typical Arsenal team goal started out from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez who started in goal for the match, with 7 touches in between and Buyako Saka set up his captain on his favorite left side and he cut with his right as he directed and slotted the ball at Alison’s far post for a very clinical finish worthy of an opening goal at such an important match with a piece Silverware at stake. The goal was as sweet the celebration which was the Wakanda pose he did in tribute to the late American actor Chadwick Boseman who passed on sadly and the world has since been paying glowing tribute.
Arsenal could have gotten the 2nd and even the 3rd before the end of the half as Eddie Nketiah had two quick misses, the 1st in the 18th minute when he forced a saved from Alison Baker and the second was a misplaced shot in the 27th minutes from outside the area, but he failed to find the target with Bukayo Saka yet again involved in the build up to both misses. The possession was fairly balanced in the 1st half as Liverpool had bit of the edge but were not creating much as Arsenal had the better chances of the half and deservedly in the lead going into the first half.
2nd 45, and it became a Liverpool affair as they showed more urgency in their play and bosses the possession and they were deservedly got their goal, The Champions back on level terms with an equaliser that arrived in the 73rd minutes, Takumi Minamino got his 1st Liverpool goal since his January move to Anfield from Red Bull Salzburg, a nice piece work from Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah as he cut in from the right saw the ball rolled kindly to the path of Takumi who put the put at the back of Arsenal net. A brief period of pause for VAR checks and the goal was upheld as there was no handball for on a Liverpool player in the build up to the goal, it ended all square after 90 minutes plus added time, As the game was decided immediately on Penalties.
Arsenal got 5 perfect penalties from Riess Nelson, Maitland Miles who looks on his way out of the club as he has been linked to Fulham and Wolves in recent weeks, Cerdic Soares, David Luiz and Aubameyang with the one that sealed the win for the Gunners.
Mo’ Salah, Fabinho,Takumi Minamino and Jones all scored from the spot for Liverpool, but a very crutial miss for the 3rd Liverpool kick flew off the cross bar from Rhian Brewsters and cost Liverpool a Community Shield win.
Anis Mainland Miles amidst transfer speculations, gave a Man of the Match Performance on a very delightful evening for the Gunners yet again at Wembley Stadium, Goalkeeper Emi Martinez who started ahead of the “returning from injury” Leno, also was solid between the sticks for Arsenal and surprisingly have been linked also with a move away from the team, its only left to be seen who is left to leave and who is staying at the Club.
Aubameyang’s contact situation is not yet settled at the moment too and hopefully it can be settled quickly and the Gabonese can put pen to paper and commit his future to the team.
Premier league 2020/2021 season to resume on the 12th of September 2020. Arsenal would be kicking off their season with a derby of some sort at the home of fellow Londoners at the Craven Cottage home of the newly promoted Premier league side Fulham, it’s an early kick off games at 12:30, while Champions Liverpool would be kick starting the defense of their title at home at Anfield when they host newly promoted Leeds United who have been away in the wilderness of English football for 16 years.
