Arsenal could be the surprise team to face Liverpool in the Community Shield next month even if they lose their FA Cup semi-final match against Manchester City, according to reports.
The trophy is usually contested by the winners of the FA Cup and the Premier League champions, with the second-placed club in the league table taking the spot if any club does the double.
But UEFA’s rearranged European tournaments have created problems as the FA hopes to play the Community Shield this year.
The Europa League final does not happen until August 21, with the Champions League final taking place two days later, and Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are still very much involved – as well as being in the semi-finals of this season’s FA Cup.
With the proposed date for the Community Shield currently just a week after, on August 30, any club that wins the FA Cup and also goes far in European competition will not be able to participate.
However, the Daily Mail claim FA bosses are still determined for the Community Shield to go ahead as they planned, even if will affect any team.
The new plan is to invite the most successful side in the Shield’s history to play against the Reds instead, which is Arsenal, who have claimed the trophy 15 times.
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The proposal will be a good one for Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, who twice won the trophy as captain of the gunners in 2014 and 2015, as well as lifting it while he was Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
On the one hand, it would afford Arteta the chance of lifting silverware at the start of the 2020/21 season, but on the other hand it affect the already short preparation time Premier League teams will be afforded.
Players are only expected to receive just two weeks of holiday after the final match of the current campaign with Premier League bosses hoping to get the next season starting by the weekend of September 12.
