The details for Arsenal v Liverpool at Wembley in the men’s Community Shield to kick-off the 20/21 season have finally been confirmed as have the details for both the men’s and women’s 20/21 FA Cups.

The 2020 men’s FA Community Shield will be played behind-closed-doors on Sunday 29 August with a 4.30pm kick-off. Now, wasn’t that worth waiting for?

Don’t go, there’s loads more…

Arsenal have won the Shield 15 times (1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1991 (shared), 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017).

Manchester United have won the trophy more, however, than any other side with 17 outright wins and four shared in their cabinet.

Arsenal’s 15 (14, one shared) sees them in second place while Liverpool are in third with 10 outright and five shared. Everton take fourth spot above Tottenham (six wins, one shared) with eight outrights and one shared.

Chelsea’s men’s team have the joint-longest run of losing appearances along with Newcastle. Both have lost their last five.

Women’s FA Community Shield

It is expected that the women’s Community Shield, between Chelsea and Manchester City, will return for the first time in 12 years. If all goes ahead as planned, it will be played immediately before the men’s game and be shown live on BBC One.

Arsenal’s women’s team played in the first ever women’s Community Shield back in 2000 when they played Charlton Athletic at Craven Cottage. They have won the trophy a record five times (2000 (shared), 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008).

Community Shield as 20/21 season opener

The Community Shield is usually played the week before the season starts but because we no longer live in that world, 20/21 won’t get underway until 12 September, like it used to before Sky Sports was a thing.

Given how late the season finished and how little time players will have to prepare for this game, it is even more irrelevant this summer than in normal years. A truncated Emirates Cup, if you will.

20/21 Men’s Emirates FA Cup

The actual Emirates FA Cup, the one Arsenal won for the 14th time when they beat Chelsea at Wembley on 1 August, will begin again on 1 September for those who need to start in the Extra preliminary round.

To make it all the way to the first round proper, those sides will need to play six games with the fourth qualifying round taking place on 24 October.

As usual, Arsenal and the rest will join in at the third round stage.

The prize money for the 20/21 FA Cup has been cut to 17/18 levels due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic according to the FA. Arsenal picked up £3.6m for winning the final while Chelsea received £1.8m for giving it a good go.

The winners in 2021 will receive £1.8m.

20/21 Women’s FA Cup

376 teams will take part in next season’s Women’s FA Cup with the extra preliminary round starting on 6 September 2020. The draw for this round will take place on 21 August, giving teams exactly 16 days notice to prepare.

The final is expected to be played on 22 May 2021 at Wembley and teams that play in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and the FA Women’s Championship will enter the competition at the fourth round proper stage.

Just as the Arsenal men’s team hold the record for most FA Cup wins with 14, so do the women, who got to 14 our years ago.