Arsenal – Liverpool

Two French managers, Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Liverpool's Gerard Houllier, go head-to-head in the season's traditional curtain-raiser.

Arsenal won the League and FA Cup last season so as runners-up in the Premiership Liverpool are their opponents in the Community Shield.

Both sides take to the pitch and Liverpool fans will have a chance to see new signing Diouf in action. Arsenal new-boy Cygan is on the bench.

Arsenal kick-off in their new home strip, while Liverpool sport a dubious away kit.

Gerrard picks up the ball in midfield and finds Riise. Diouf can't control Riise's pass on the edge of the box.

Lauren makes a mistake in defence but Keown clears any danger.

Cole makes a forward run down the left, but plays a wayward pass to Bergkamp in the centre.

Parlour plays an early ball into the box from the right and Hyypia concedes a corner.

Edu delivers the ball and Campbell heads just wide.

Gerrard clatters Vieira and gets a yellow card while Vieira receives some treatment.

Diouf dances through the midfield but his ball into the box is too heavy.

Gerrard makes another reckless challenge, this time on Henry, and he is lucky to stay on the pitch. Vieira returns to the match.

Wiltord combines with Cole on the left and Henchoz concedes a corner.

Henry whips the ball into the box and Dudek comes off his line to claim it.

Bergkamp controls a long ball on his chest. Henry spreads the play to the left, but Lauren's cross is blocked.

Cole sprints past Traore and finds Henry in the box......

...the French striker can't make the angle for a shot but wins a corner.

Edu takes a poor corner and as the ball comes back out to him his second delivery ends up in the stands.

Heskey wins a freekick. Gerrard to deliver......

....the ball sails out for a goal kick. what a waste.

Henry skins Henchoz and sprints down the left. His cross is collected low by Dudek.

Henry gets a flick on a cross from the right and the looping ball drops towards Bergkamp......

....Xavier muscles the Dutchman out of the way and clears the danger.

Henry finds space for a shot from the edge of the box. Dudek saves, and holds on to, his curling strike.

Liverpool are playing their usual game of sitting back and defending then hitting on the break.

Henry combines with Wiltord on the left. Henry takes another 20-yard shot which Dudek parries.....

...the ball falls to Parlour whose cross finds Bergkamp.....

....Bergkamp's strike is blocked by Dudek but spins back to the Dutch striker.....

...Bergkamp's shot on the volley is straight at Dudek, who holds the ball this time around.

It's all Arsenal at the moment as Edu gets treatment after being studded down his leg.

Wiltord brings down Diouf and gets booked. Gerrard puts a better delivery into the box, but Vieira heads clear.

Campbell hits a long ball forward which Henchoz heads clear.

Edu stands over a freekick 30-yards out.......

....his blasted shot hits Riise in the head and the Norwegian collapses to the floor.

The ref stops play, but Riise is back on his feet and ready to continue.

A flick from Owen sets Heskey galloping into the box and he lines up a shot from a tight angle....

....Heskey's strike is collected by Seaman at his near post.

Riise takes a freekick from the right. His delivery is much better than Gerrard's and Keown concedes a corner.

The ball is headed clear as far as Hamann. He crosses into the box and Seaman claims it through a crowd of people.

Owen runs at Arsenal's back four. Vieira slides in and Owen plays for the foul. Freekick and Vieira gets booked.

Riise hits the shot from 25-yards, but it deflects off Vieira for a corner.

Liverpool coming into the match as an attacking force for the first time.

Tackles are flying in around the midfield.

Riise skips past Lauren and Keown dives in with a tackle. Arsenal counter attack with Henry....

...Wiltord collects the ball on the edge of the box and finds Parlour on the right. He shoots just wide of Dudek's far post.

Vieira starts an attack from deep. Henry plays the ball into the box for Wiltord to chase......

...he gets there under pressure from Traore and shoots straight at Dudek.

Henry runs at Henchoz, who stands firm and gets in a valuable challenge.

Vieira hits the deck. No foul says the ref.

Riise goes down off the ball. The officials didn't see anything wrong.

The game is getting a bit fiesty between these two rivals as half-time approaches.

Gerrard spins Parlour, but his pass goes astray. Cole attacks down the left and his cross goes straight to Dudek.

Hyypia hits long to Diouf. He holds off Cole plays the ball in field.

Henry takes a hack at Hamann and gets booked.

The linesman flags for some shirt pulling. Campbell disagrees and Diouf is unhappy as he had got clear.

Riise takes a corner from the right.....

.....too deep and the ball goes out of play. Seaman takes the resulting goal kick and the whistle goes for half-time.

Arsenal started the game the stronger, but Liverpool fought back towards the end of the half.

The match is evenly balanced at 0-0 and is still there for the taking, if either side can mount some sustained attacking pressure.

Liverpool restart the match.

Arsenal have made a change for the second-half, with Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva replacing Edu.

Owen attacks straight away and sets up Diouf on the edge of the box. His shot is blocked.

Henry accelrates onto a Bergkamp through-ball and is clear through on goal........

...Dudek gets a leg to Henry's power strike and diverts it onto the post.

Lauren plays the ball down the left. He wins and takes a throw.

Wiltord is offside from Gilberto's pass.

Gerrard looks long for Riise, but Seaman gets there first.

Arsenal keep possession in midfield.

Wiltord latches onto a pass and hits a low shot from the left which Dudek saves low.

Liverpool counter attack with Diouf, who sets up Owen in the box.....

....the England striker scuffs his shot and the chance is wasted.

Viera breaks for the Gunners and attempts to play a one-two with Bergkamp.....

...Henry decides to cut out the return pass and hits a low shot from the edge of the box......

...Dudek is quickly down to his left to make the save.

Lauren makes a poor defensive header and Arsenal are in a muddle.

The ball ricochets to Diouf who blasts high and wide from 20-yards out.

Gerrard hits a dipping cross into the box. Owen gets ahead of Keown but can't direct the ball on target.

Keown tackles Riise as Henry decides to change his boots.

Gerrard takes a corner from the left.....

....the ball fizzes across the goal and Owen is inches away from turning it into the net. He claims he was being tugged.

Lauren impedes Owen, but Liverpool waste the resulting freekick.

Hamann cuts out a poor pass in midfield and Liverpool attack.

Hamann finds Owen. The striker darts into the box and loses his footing as he hits a poor shot.

Vieira threads a ball through to Bergkamp, who spins into the box....

....He can't get the ball out of his feet and his shot goes wide.

Diouf holds the ball up under pressure from Vieira, but no teammates come to his aid.

Arsenal build from the back and slow down the pace of the frantic game.

Liverpool make a change. Hamann is replaced by Murphy.

Vieira plays Bergkamp through on the left and he cuts into the box.....

...Bergkamp picks out Gilberto and the Brazilian hammers the ball home on his debut. GOAL!!!!!

Liverpool look to respond and push forward. A Gerrard shot is deflected for a corner.

Arsenal get a freekick for pushing in the box.

Diouf drives into the box from the left and skips past Cole.....

...Vieira dives in with a challenge and Diouf takes a dive in the area.

No penalty says the ref and Vieira is furious with the Diouf.

Liverpool pass the ball around the back four.

Gilberto clatters Diouf and he becomes Arsenal's fourth player to get a yellow card.

Babbel comes on for Liverpool - making a return after a year's absence.

Babbel tries to get on the end of a Gerrard cross but Campbell heads clear.

Time is ticking away as Liverpool probe for an equalizer.

Liverpool pile on the pressure and substitute Baros fluffs and overhead kick.

A frustrated Murphy fouls Vieira and receives a yellow card.

Vieira gets some treatment as Seaman restarts the match.

A foul is given against Cole for his challenge on Baros and the Liverpool fans give an ironic cheer.

Henry breaks and only has Henchoz between himself and clear run on goal....

...the French striker procrastinates and Henchoz blocks his cross/shot.

Liverpool make another change as Smicer replaces Owen.

Arsenal replace Bergkamp with Toure

The substitutions have slowed Liverpool's impetus and Arsenal are gaining control of the match.

Liverpool make another change and Traore is replaced by new signing Cheyrou.

Baros heads the ball down to Diouf who makes space for the shot.....

....Diouf's 20-yard drive goes well over Seaman's bar.

Diouf tries to win a corner off Campbell, but the England defender stands firm.

Toure impedes Smicer and Liverpool have a chance to get the ball inot the box from the freekick.

The chance is wasted as Seaman collects the ball.

Arsenal's Keown wastes some time.

Last chance for Liverpool as Babbel chases a high ball into the box.....

....Seaman comes out, claims the ball and collides with the German defender.

The final whistle goes and Arsenal have won the Community Shield 1-0.

Gilberto has given the Gunners victory on his debut as they bag the first silverware of their season.

The Premiership champions put in a good performance in the supposed friendly - six players were booked - and go into the new season on a high.

Liverpool receive their runners-up medals while Vieira lifts the Community Shield for victorious Arsenal.