The Emirates Stadium is one of the grounds in the running to host the Community Shield this year, according to a report.

Arsenal fans applaud Takehiro Tomiyasu A at the EPL match Arsenal v Norwich City, at the Emirates Stadium, London, UK on 11th September, 2021.
Arsenal fans applaud Takehiro Tomiyasu at the Premier League match between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium, on 11th September, 2021

With Wembley unavailable due to the Women’s European Championship final, the Evening Standard report that the FA are exploring alternative venues for the Community Shield.

Talks are ongoing, but Arsenal and the London Stadium are open to hosting the event. Tottenham Hotspur are hosting a Lady Gaga concert, so they’re out of contention.

In related news, the Standard report that the Community Shield could disrupt plans for the Emirates Cup, which is provisionally scheduled for the same weekend.

The report adds that if the Emirates Cup and the Community Shield both take place at the Emirates Stadium, then the Emirates Cup would be a one-day event with the men and women’s teams playing, rather than the two-day mini-tournament it was originally.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League. A view of the pitch before the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday, March 14, 2021. Copyright: Julian Finney
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League. A view of the pitch before the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday, March 14, 2021. Copyright: Julian Finney

Arsenal fans would probably have mixed feelings about the Community Shield being hosted at the Emirates.

On the one hand, it’s some easy money for the club to reinvest in the squad. On the other, it’s an opportunity for a rival to lift silverware at the Emirates.

Liverpool or Manchester City are likely to be involved in the Community Shield from the Premier League side, but Chelsea could still make it in through the FA Cup.

There’s no chance Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur will be involved, and you never know what might happen in the cup. There are still seven non-big-six clubs left in the running.

If the Community Shield ends up being contested between Manchester City and Southampton, for example, I don’t think the fans would really be too bothered about who won it.