It is a replay of last season’s Shield match, but this time around the Gunners arrive as Premier League champions while United are the holders of The FA Cup.

On a boiling hot day in south Wales twelve months ago, the score was 1-1 after a hard-fought 90 minutes and it was a Tim Howard save from Robert Pires’ shoot-out spot-kick which helped send the Shield north to Old Trafford.

We caught up Sunday’s Chief Guest Sir Geoff Hurst as he looks forward to what is set to be another very competitive friendly fixture between, who the World Cup winner describes, “the country’s two best teams”.

”It’s a prestigious occasion,” says the former West Ham United forward who scored one in the Hammers 2-2 Charity Shield draw with Liverpool in 1964.

He continues: “Both teams will want to do well as they prepare for the new season and it will give a hint as to whether Manchester United will be able to get closer to Arsenal this year.

”The Gunners were fantastic last season and raised the stakes during an unbeaten run on their way to the title and United slipped a little below their usually high standards finishing third.

”We can expect much of the same from them this year, I feel. Arsenal are a well-organised, well-coached side, it’s just whether the other clubs can raise their game to challenge them at the top.”

Three months have passed since Arsenal lifted the Premiership title, but the close-season was almost non-existent for many football fans who had a feast of international action with Euro 2004.

Sir Geoff was no different, and the only man who has scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final was present as England successfully negotiated Group B, but feels a little disappointed that the Three Lions didn’t go as far as expected.

”I was in Portugal for England’s three group games and I also watched the opening game when Greece surprised Portugal for the first time.

”It was a great achievement by the Greeks. It helped that the major nations didn’t do too well, but they capitalised, set their game plan out and it worked well for them.

”We all had high hopes for England going in to the tournament and everybody felt that we had a very good chance to win, so it was a disappointment not to get beyond the quarter-finals.”

However, Sir Geoff adds that England can take a number of positives from the Championships as they look ahead to the qualifying campaign for World Cup 2006.

”The highlight of the tournament for me was the form of Wayne Rooney. Losing Wayne against Portugal, following a very clumsy tackle, probably cost us the game. He was outstanding up front and it changed our whole style.

”Also, Ashley Cole had a great tournament, Gary Neville was very steady at right back, and Frank Lampard played so well in midfield he couldn’t be left out.”

”But qualifiers are different to playing in tournaments. I think we must play with a bit more attacking flair.

”We seem too concerned about occasionally leaving our defenders one against one, but that’s not necessarily a risk. If you’re a good enough defender you should be able to handle a one on one situation.

”I’d like to see us when we get to the finals of a championship having a real go, but I don’t think we did in Portugal.”

It is felt by many that international success is only a matter of time, however, and with the substantial investment in the Grassroots game, Sir Geoff, as McDonald’s Director of Football, is playing a major role in increasing the standards of coaching and development in English football.

“McDonald’s has recruited over 4,000 coaches so far, which has given nearly two million kids the opportunity to receive qualified coaching. But it’s not simply about numbers and giving more kids the opportunity to get active. We are also making sure we are producing quality too.

”We are giving coaches the organisational skills to teach kids in the right way, making it enjoyable for them.

He added: “Children love playing the game and they can channel their energy into a sport which teaches friendship, self-esteem, discipline, camaraderie.

”It’s not rocket science. Football is a simple game, it’s fantastic.”