Arsenal have lifted the first piece of silverware for 2015/16 by beating Chelsea 1-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday.
The Gunners made it two victories in a row in the pre-season showpiece fought out between the reigning FA Cup winners and last season's Premier League champions at a sun-soaked Wembley Stadium.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the only goal of the contest as Arsene Wenger finally managed to break the hex against Jose Mourinho, saluting for the first time in 14 clashes with the Portuguese.
The deciding moment came in the 24th minute when Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was later named Man of the Match, received the ball from the centralized Theo Walcott on the right.
The England international was quick to cut back inside, beating Cesar Azpilicueta, before unleashing a thunderous left-footed effort past Thibaut Courtois and into the top right corner.
It was a fine move from Arsenal which ended in a superb finish from a player who has done his starting chances no harm on the eve of the new campaign.
Chelsea went close later in the first half when Ramires really should have done better when he headed wide from pointblank range.
The Blues looked the more dominant of the two sides throughout the second lot of 45 minutes and had a number of chances to equalise, namely when Eden Hazard uncharacteristically spooned a close range attempt over Petr Cech's goal.
The half chances kept coming for Chelsea but a lack of invention in the final third would prove to be their downfall.
Olivier Giroud was bright for the Gunners after replacing Walcott midway through the term and had a couple of gilt-edged opportunities while his new teammate down the other end in Cech came up with a quality save to deny Oscar's bending free-kick.
Courtois was also busy at times and needed to be at his best to keep out Kieran Gibbs' late in the piece, stopping the left-back with a fine one-on-one save at the death.
In the end, however, Arsenal showed resilience to come away with a narrow victory which is sure to give them, as well as their success-starved supporters (from a league point of view) something to really look forward to as the new season edges closer.
Arsenal will kick off the Premier League campaign at home against West Ham United on August 9, the day after reigning champs Chelsea take on Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.
2015 FA Community Shield
Arsenal: 1 (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 24')
Chelsea: 0
Wembley Stadium, London – 85,437
