Wenger: Keep this going
ARSENAL BOSS: PLAYERS URGED TO TAKE MOMENTUM INTO LEAGUE CAMPAIGN
Gunners win the shield for third time in four years.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the strength of competition in the Premier League means his side cannot afford another false start if they are to challenge for the title.
Arsenal lost three of their last four opening games last term with a 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool setting the tone for a campaign in which they missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time since 1997.
Wenger’s men launch the new campaign at home to Leicester City on Friday and he urged his players to harness the momentum from a good pre-season that culminated in victory over Chelsea in Sunday’s Community Shield.
“We want to find a good balance between the confidence we can get out of these games and the urgency that every Premiership game demands,” he said.
“We had some bad starts in the last four years in the first game of the Premiership.
“But we had the intensity in our preparation games that is needed to be ready so let’s go into the Premiership with the same discipline, the same spirit.”
Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-1 on penalties to win the Community Shield for the third time in four years after the game finished 1-1.
Arsenal were without Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Oezil and Aaron Ramsey, with the former still regaining fitness after the Confederations Cup and the two other players nursing minor injuries.
Wenger said there was “nothing bad” about the injury sustained by club captain Per Mertesacker, who had to come off after being accidentally caught in the face by Gary Cahill’s elbow.
His replacement, new Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac, impressed with a series of shuddering challenges before cancelling out Victor Moses’s opener with a headed 81st-minute equaliser.
Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal’s club-record £46.5 million signing from Lyon, had a more low-key debut, but Wenger was encouraged by his performance.
“Lacazette is stronger every week,” said Wenger of the French international, who hit the post midway through the first half.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte cut a frustrated figure and said he was “a bit angry” with referee Bobby Madley.
Madley booked Willian for diving and showed Pedro a straight red card for an ugly foul on Mohamed Elneny shortly before Kolasinac’s equaliser.
Conte defended his decision to allow Thibaut Courtois to take a penalty after the goalkeeper hoisted his effort over the bar.
“Courtois is one of the best players to kick penalties,” said Conte, whose side begin their title defence at home to Burnley on Saturday.
“If you have a player that shows you during the training sessions to be one of the best, you pick him. But don’t forget (Alvaro) Morata is a forward and he did the same.”
New man Morata also miscued, dragging his kick wide. –