Football
ESPN staff 7y

Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil miss out vs. Chelsea; Alvaro Morata on bench

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are not in Arsenal's squad for the Community Shield match at Wembley, while summer signings Alvaro Morata and Antonio Rudiger start the game on Chelsea's bench.

Alexandre Lacazette starts in the main striker role for Arsenal with Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi just behind in a 3-4-3 formation that sees Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal named in a back three.

Reports suggest Ozil and Aaron Ramsey have calf and ankle knocks respectively and Sanchez and Shkodran Mustafi are not included due to their participation in the Confederations Cup.

The future of Ozil seems secure despite speculation in recent months that he could depart, while Wenger said this week that Sanchez will respect the club's decision that he will not be sold this summer.

"The only thing I can tell you is he is focused. My decision is clear, he will stay and he will respect that. It's as simple as that," Wenger told a news conference ahead of the Community Shield.

Antonio Conte names a side comprised of players that were at the club last season. Eden Hazard and Tiemoue Bakayoko are absent through injury, while Diego Costa is still on leave with his future yet to be resolved.

Michy Batshuayi is handed the main striker's role for the day, ahead of Morata, with Pedro and Willian in support, and the Premier League champions name a youthful bench with Andreas Christensen, Kyle Scott, Jeremie Boga and Charly Musonda all included.

Asked about his decision to start Morata on the bench, Conte said: "I don't know why people are surprised. It is normal when a player arrives. He needs a bit of time to adapt to our football and our ideas."

Arsenal XI: Cech, Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal; Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Welbeck, Iwobi; Lacazette
Substitutes: Ospina, Kolasinac, Willock, Nelson, Maitland-Niles, Walcott, Giroud

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Alonso, Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro
Substitutes: Caballero, Rudiger, Christensen, Scott, Boga, Musonda, Morata

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