London: Most Arsenal fans had arrived searching for clues as to whether Alexandre Lacazette might be the catalyst for a sustained Premier League title challenge, but they actually departed most uplifted both by the man he was supposed to replace and a free transfer from Bosnia.
Olivier Giroud and Sead Kolasinac had started only among the Wembley substitutes but it was their contributions that ultimately clinched what was a seventh Community Shield for Arsene Wenger.
Kolasinac, whose various nicknames even before arriving in England included ‘The Destroyer’, ‘The Tank’ and ‘The Bosnian Hulk’, is just about the least Arsenal-like signing imaginable and, in the unflinching desire and strength he displayed for the equalising goal, it became obvious that he will add something quite different this season.
These are early days but, as a free transfer from Schalke, he already looks not just like one of the signings of the summer but like a future cult figure at The Emirates.
Wenger later admitted that he had hesitated before starting Kolasinac due to the pressure of making a first major Arsenal appearance at Wembley, but he excelled even in an unfamiliar centre-back role after replacing Per Mertesacker.
Kolasinac’s normal position is left full-back or wing-back, but he is the sort of player whose sheer presence impacts across the entire team.
“You have players who are pumped up in the gym, and players who are born strong, and he is the second,” said Wenger.
“I got him as well because of his attitude; the modern game doesn’t tolerate as many weaknesses as it did 20 years ago. He has good talent and a strong, determined attitude supported by a strong body.”
Much the same could be said of Giroud and, as he stood being serenaded by Arsenal fans to the tune of Hey Jude after converting the match-winning penalty, it was another reminder of his unique and sometimes under-appreciated value.
We are constantly told that modern football is a squad game and Wenger’s job now is to convince Giroud of this and how, even often as a substitute, he can remain as influential as any regular starter.
Giroud finished last season with more goals per minute than any Arsenal teammate but his contributions often had the greatest impact when he came off the bench.
Part of that was explained by his ability to change completely how Arsenal play but also how his attributes are especially damaging once a game has fragmented and an opposition’s defenders are tiring.
It was certainly instructive here how, even after spending pounds 52 million (Dh248.7 million) this summer on Lacazette, it was still Giroud to whom Wenger turned when he most needed a goal.
Giroud has been considering his Arsenal future following the arrival of Lacazette and, although he will probably start next season as Plan B, he will surely still get plenty of opportunity.
Plan A is Lacazette following his 113 goals for Lyon over the past four years and, while the Community Shield is a hazardous stage to form definitive conclusions, his impact was more fleeting.
At 5ft 7in, a lack of aerial strength contributed to a relatively straightforward afternoon for David Luiz until he was substituted in the 65th minute, but there were still signs for encouragement.
Lacazette did little wrong with the ball at his feet and his quality in front of goal was evident in how he so nearly opened the scoring with a shot against the post from only a half chance.
His versatility and willingness to switch positions with Danny Welbeck by drifting out to the left flank will also have enthused Wenger.
Yet the manager can also hardly have failed to notice how Arsenal’s attacks had more sustained focus once Giroud came on to the pitch.
That was explained in part by Chelsea going down to 10 men, but also by how adept Giroud is at playing with his back to goal and holding the ball up in support of his attacking colleagues.
Wenger’s transfer priority is to reduce the size of his squad — and the lists here on the back of the programme underlined an extravagance of options compared with Antonio Conte — but, having finally added, in Kolasinac, the sort of physicality Arsenal have lacked, he must not now reduce it by selling Giroud.
