The FA Community Shield

Arsene Wenger targets perfect pre-season for Gunners

Monday 13 Jul 2015
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger looking for a 100 per cent record in pre-season

Arsenal arrived in Singapore to begin their pre-season campaign and boss Arsene Wenger targeted victories in all five of their matches before the Premier League kicks off.

Following the Barclays Asia Trophy games this week, they return to London for the Emirates Cup and then wrap up their preparations at The FA Community Shield supported by McDonald's.

Arsenal v Chelsea

The FA Community Shield supported by McDonald's
3pm, Sunday 2 August 2015
Wembley Stadium connected by EE
Live on BT Sport

And Wenger believes that a successful pre-season, which will culminate at Wembley Stadium on 2 August, will give The FA Cup holders the best chance ahead of their Premier League opener against West Ham United.

"We want to win every game," said Wenger, whose side beat Manchester City in last year's Community Shield.

"A few years ago nobody was interested in these [Asia Trophy] games but now there is so much interest in the preparation that if you do not win these games it's already a crisis.

"It's important that you start on a positive foot."

He continued: "We finished third last season and won The FA Cup. The pressure is on us to do better, but there are plenty of competitors to win the Premier League.

"You have seen the buys clubs have made already, but we will give absolutely everything to do it."

Arsenal's cause has been strengthened by the addition of goalkeeper Petr Cech, who joined the Gunners from Premier League champions Chelsea, the team they face in the Community Shield next month.

Petr Cech will face his former club Chelsea for Arsenal at Wembley

Petr Cech won 15 trophies in his 11 seasons at Chelsea

During his 11 seasons at Stamford Bridge, Cech's career was littered with trophies.

The 33-year-old won no fewer than 15 major honours, including the Premier League and FA Cup four times each, the Champions League and two Community Shields.

That experience, Wenger says, will only bring more stability to his team.

"He will give us his talent, his experience, his knowledge of the top-level game. He can contribute to stabilise our defensive sector," said the Frenchman.

"I must say that in the second part of the season we conceded 13 goals from 19 games, so there is not much wrong there. That means that the requested level is very high."

Wenger added: "What he can give us is to contribute a stability. 

"Also all the other keepers here are still young, so he can contribute as well by developing our goalkeepers because they are top quality."

By FA Staff