Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois fires opening salvo ahead of Community Shield against London rivals Arsenal at Wembley insisting: 'We're ready'

  • Stamford Bridge goalkeeper content with his club's pre-season preparations
  • Blues concluded their pre-season with a 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan in Singapore
  • But Thibaut Courtois is bullish ahead of traditional curtain raiser at Wembley
  • Insists they're ready for Arsenal - the team they lost against in 2017 FA Cup Final

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wants to win the Community Shield against Arsenal and use it as a launch pad for the Blues' attempts to retain the Premier League title they won last term. 

The man between the sticks at Stamford Bridge is content with his club's pre-season preparations, despite concluding their series of warm-up matches on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan in Singapore.

Antonio Conte now has a week to fine-tune his squad before they take on Arsene Wenger's team at Wembley Stadium next Sunday in the official English football season curtain-raiser.

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in action against Inter Milan in Singapore on Saturday

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in action against Inter Milan in Singapore on Saturday

He told Goal.com: 'We will do our best to win the Community Shield and I think we are ready for it. Let’s see if we have a good season.'


Although Chelsea ended their summer preparations with successive losses in Singapore to Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich and then Inter, Courtois is bullish about his team's chances against Arsenal - and in defence of their title crown.

The 25-year-old Belgium said: 'We had some good training which was important for us. The first game against Arsenal [a 3-0 win in Beijing] was good.

World-class goalkeeper Courtois is bullish ahead of the Community Shield against Arsenal

World-class goalkeeper Courtois is bullish ahead of the Community Shield against Arsenal

'The last two games we didn’t play bad but we gave away balls for counter-attacks that is something we have to improve. The training has been good - and that's the most important part.' 

The Blues will be looking for revenge against the North Londoners after Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in May's FA Cup final - in a memorable game that saw Alexis Sanchez score after only four minutes. 

Chelsea are looking for revenge against Arsenal after the Gunners won the 2017 FA Cup final

Chelsea are looking for revenge against Arsenal after the Gunners won the 2017 FA Cup final

Courtois is content with his club's summer preparations ahead of trying to defend their title

Courtois is content with his club's summer preparations ahead of trying to defend their title

Diego Costa then equalised with 14 minutes remaining only for Aaron Ramsey to net his second FA Cup final clincher three minutes later to break Chelsea hearts - three years after grabbing the winner in a 3-2 victory after extra time over Hull City.  

Chelsea's world-class midfielder N'Golo Kante underlined Courtois sentiments but cautioned: 'We have to prepare very well for the game against Arsenal next week.'