Five Facts: Need-to-know Community Shield stats for Arsenal vs Liverpool

 

It feels like only yesterday that the 2019/20 Premier League season drew to a close and we're already on the cusp of a new campaign. The Community Shield is the traditional curtain raiser in English football and with Arsenal taking on Liverpool at Wembley, we pick out five need-to-know facts ahead of the clash of the FA Cup winners and the Premier League champions. 

 

Arsenal's Community Shield record 

 

Arsenal have excelled in the Community Shield, particularly in recent seasons. Indeed, the Gunners have won the competition 15 times in their history, five of which have come this century. They still have ground to make up on Manchester United (17), but Arsenal have lost in the Community Shield inside normal time just once in their last 12 outings in the Premier League curtain raiser. 

 

They beat Liverpool in the last meeting between the two teams, emerging 2-1 victors at the Emirates when the pair clashed last month, and will look to inflict a second successive Community Shield loss upon Liverpool, who fell to a penalty shootout loss to Manchester City in this game last season. 

 

Wembley - Arsenal's second home? 

 

Arsenal have a very good record at Wembley, not including the league matches played at the national stadium when Tottenham considered the ground their home. Since their League Cup loss at the hands of Birmingham City, Arsenal have won 13 of their last 14 visits to Wembley, with the only blip on the record coming in the 2018 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City. 

 

Liverpool's front three and their record against Arsenal 

 

Liverpool's famed front three have a solid record against the Gunners and head coach Jurgen Klopp will look to the trio once more to put this Arsenal side to the sword at Wembley. Roberto Firmino has scored eight times against the Gunners, making them his favourite opponent, Sadio Mane has scored six goals in 12 meetings with Arsenal and Mohamed Salah has six goals in six games against the north London side. 

 

Head coach Mikel Arteta is well aware of the goal threat the trio carry, but whether his system can stop them from adding to their fine record and firing Liverpool to an early-season trophy remains to be seen. 

 

The man in the middle 

 

The last time Andre Marriner officiated an Arsenal match, the Gunners drew 5-5 with today's opponents Liverpool in the Carabao Cup back in October. For Liverpool, they have fared a little better than the Gunners with Marriner taking charge. Indeed, the Premier League champions are unbeaten in 12 matches the 49-year-old has refereed and they'll look to see that run continue at Wembley. 

 

 

A good omen for the coming season? 

 

While Liverpool will hope to get their title defence off to a successful start next month and add another trophy to the cabinet in the 2020/21 curtain raiser, the Community Shield isn't the good omen many may suspect. In the last 10 years, only twice has a team won the Community Shield and then gone on to win the Premier League. Klopp will be keen to land the trophy, yet caution must be applied ahead of the looming campaign.

Five Facts: Need-to-know Community Shield stats for Arsenal vs Liverpool