Jose Mourinho may have done his best to shake the foundations at the Emirates Stadium with recent jibes but for Arsene Wenger, so far, it’s been a summer of reassuring stability.
No star players jumping ship to Manchester City has left a settled squad enhanced by the addition of Petr Cech in goal, marking a welcome change of tact from Wenger who for almost 10 years had steadfastly ignored the Gunners’ deficiencies in such a key position.
Cech himself admitted he’s been impressed by the togetherness and spirit within the Arsenal team and there’s growing belief within the club, with good reason, they can mount and sustain a substantial title challenge.
The result of Sunday’s Community Shield won’t reinforce or reduce that optimism but at the same time can help lift a considerable monkey of the French manager’s back.
The spectre of the unlucky 13 and Mourinho’s “specialist in failure” barb hangs over Wenger like the eternal ‘why can’t you sign a decent goalkeeper?’ question once did. And while victory on Sunday will not go towards achieving anything tangible, it removes what must be a source of extreme annoyance for the 65-year-old.
Where there was once wit now lies a strange bitterness, and the Portuguese demands recognition like he craves creative midfielders who track back on his every command.
That may seem not to matter to his players it does remove the eternal narrative between these two managers, scratching a nagging itch ahead of their first league meeting at Stamford Bridge on September 19.
Paradoxically for Wenger while belief grows within the walls of the Emirates for the new season, it only seeks to heighten the deep embedded cynicism in the stands, meaning the pressure to perform is not necessarily as intense as it once was. Back-to-back FA Cup victories have appeased supporters who had become so bored of finishing third it manisfested into genuine anger towards their manager.
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That, theoretically, may return but after a series of false dawns Arsenal fans know all too well not to get too excited just yet – especially with the need for a defensive midfielder – giving Wenger and his team time to hit their stride.
Wenger, therefore, hasn’t been this comfortable for years and his pre-season press conferences so far have shown him relaxed and almost rejuvenated.
By contrast Mourinho, despite retaining all the significant components of his title-winning team and compensating with the departure of Cech by landing Asmir Begovic – a move which could even prove an upgrade – has appeared surly.
Targeting Arsenal’s recent extravagant spending was an obvious ploy to get under Wenger’s skin – something he has fallen hook, line and sinker for in the past – but the Rafael Benitez insult regarding his weight was distasteful.
Where there was once wit now lies a strange bitterness, and the Portuguese demands recognition like he craves creative midfielders who track back on his every command.
Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola were seemingly unnecessary sources of irritation for him last term and any suggestions he may be mellowing with age are deeply premature.
Frustration at the impasse over John Stones and the constant need to defend his acquisition of Radamel Falcao has led to a sour old summer for the Special One.
A sizeable 13 years separate the two but where Wenger, at least for now, seems flushed with youthful vigour once again, Mourinho is beginning to act and show his age.
