• Community Shield

Oxlade-Chamberlain: Cup win built confidence

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain missed the first half of last season through injury © Getty Images

Enlarge

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes Arsenal are still benefiting from the feel-good factor of winning the FA Cup and thinks the triumph could spur the team on to more success this season.

The Gunners ended a nine-year wait for silverware when they beat Hull at Wembley in May - a victory that eased the disappointment of another underwhelming Premier League finish.

Arsenal spent more than 100 days at the top of the Premier League last season but had to settle for fourth, seven points behind champions Manchester City, who they face in the Community Shield on Sunday.

"When there's a lot of talk about a team that should or could be winning things and it's not happening it can become a little bit frustrating," Oxlade-Chamberlain said.

"There's been a little bit of negative media about Arsenal in recent years, but we always believed we would win a trophy soon and the squad we're putting together could do it.

"The fact it did happen, I don't know if it was a relief, it was a really nice reward for the togetherness we've had to show for a while now. It does start a winning momentum and once you know you can win, it gives you confidence - you can go into competitions thinking you can win and expecting to go far."

Arsenal have made bold moves in the transfer market this summer with the signings of Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and David Ospina.

Sanchez, who scored 19 goals for Barcelona in La Liga last season, cost around £35 million and is the club's second-most expensive signing after Mesut Ozil arrived for £42.4m last year.

"It's really exciting to see someone like Alexis Sanchez come in as well as Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers,'' Oxlade-Chamberlain said.

"It definitely brings a really good lift to the squad - I feel it myself. When you're playing with new players like that you want to get to know them, try to impress them and you want to gel with them as quickly as possible.

"It does bring a massive lift of excitement to the squad and we haven't even seen Mesut Ozil yet - when our Germany World Cup winners come back it will give us another lift again."

Oxlade-Chamberlain's trip to Brazil was less successful, though.

The 20 year old suffered a knee injury towards the end of the season and, while he was included England's squad, he was unable to take part as Roy Hodgson's side crashed out in the group stages.

"I got to be around an England team at a World Cup in Brazil and that was an amazing experience," Oxlade-Chamberlain said. "I had it in my mind I was going to play - come the last group game I would have been fit to play but then I got a little niggle in training and we didn't feel the need to risk anything considering we were already out.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd