Old Rivals square up for a Blockbuster Curtain Raiser!

There is the usual sugar and spice leading up to this season's showcase event. The Community Shield is famous for being a spectacle for the two managers of the supposed two best teams in the country to have a go at one and other, and add a more personal ingredient to the match on top of the main course; an exciting football game.

Four years ago Liverpool beat arch rivals Man Utd 2-1, and the debate then was whether Liverpool had taken over the mantelpiece of British football as England's best team after an amazing cup treble. Ironically Arsenal claimed the spoils that year with a League and Cup double. Two years ago Man Utd beat Arsenal on penalties, and Arsenal's disciplinary record was top of the agenda. Francis Jeffers was sent off for kicking during the match, and later that week Sol Campbell was dismissed against Everton - and don't forget the Battle of Trafford happened that same year. Once again, Arsenal had the last laugh going unbeaten in the Premierhsip campaign.

This season's traditional curtain raiser has just as much tension going into it. And as per usual, it seems like Wenger has supplied the "coup de gras" with his jealousy towards Chelsea's insurmountable financial dominance in the transfer market providing the main debate.

"Everyone knows that they have plenty of money and when they come in, they buy for £20m what otherwise costs £10m," said the Frenchman.

"Do you really think Wright-Phillips would have cost £21m had Chelsea not come in for him?"

"Frankly, we have to be honest. What would be his price? 10m? Exactly. When Chelsea come in it costs double, and when Chelsea are not in, then a player costs half."

Wenger's comments have likely been fueled by his frustration at losing the race to sign Wright-Phillips to Chelsea. Wenger only has a 10 million Alexander Hleb to show for his work in the market this summer.

Typically though, Wenger's comments have been shrugged off by a usually calm Mourinho like a ladybug on his shoulder.

"I prefer to just laugh and keep going. I cannot take it seriously. Words, fights, mind games don't apply to me."

"With Arsenal we have a professional relationship. Nobody treats us badly. It's correct - but it's one thing is to be correct and another thing to have a relationship."

Mourinho knows he undoubtedly has the upper hand going into this fixture with the League and Cup title in the bag from last season, and the Portugueseese Manager will be keen to let Chelsea's football do the talking on Sunday.

The only question that now remains is who will walk off the pitch in Cardiff on Sunday with more swagger, pride, and jubilance? If you were a betting man you might pick Chelsea, but as we have seen in Community/Charity shields of the past, the one who wins the battle does not always win the war...

En garde Monsieur Wenger, et Senor Mourinho!

Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Gallas, Johnson, Terry, Huth, del Horno, Gudjohnsen, Geremi, Makelele, Tiago, Lampard, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Crespo, Drogba, Duff, Diarra, Robben, Jarosik, C Cole, Bridge.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Almunia, Howard, Lauren, Eboue, Hoyte, Cole, Clichy, Senderos, Toure, Cygan, Fabregas, Flamini, Gilberto Silva, Pires, Ljungberg, Reyes, Hleb, Bentley, Van Persie, Henry, Bergkamp

(Team news supplied by www.bbc.co.uk/football)