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Arsenal vs Manchester City: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes Gunners can grow after confidence boost from FA Cup victory

England midfielder is hoping to use the 'winning momentum' that comes with a trophy triumph to win more success this season

Saturday 09 August 2014 12:35 BST

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain poses with Arsenal fans (Getty Images)

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 league finish.

Arsenal spent more than 100 days at the top of the Barclays 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.

Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

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1/11Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Wojciech Szczesny

The goalkeeper came under criticism during the second half of last season for his momentary lapses in concentration, and with talk of both David Ospina and Iker Casillas set to arrive at the Emirates, the Pole will want to show Wenger why he was right to keep faith in him. Having seen off the challenge of Lukasz Fabianski for a number of years, Szczesny should continue as number one into the new season even if either Ospina or Casillas arrive.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Mathieu Debuchy

Debuchy arrived as the replacement for the departed-Bacary Sagna, who joined Manchester City on a free transfer at the end of the season. Despite being favoured by France coach Didier Deschamps at the World Cup, many Arsenal fans felt Sagna enjoyed one of his best season’s before his exit, and Debuchy will have a lot to live up to if he is to justify his £12m move to the Gunners.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Calum Chambers

Despite signing for the club this summer, Chambers looks set to start the Community Shield given that Per Mertesacker is yet to return to the club. The 19-year-old impressed during the Emirates Cup, but the Premier League champions will pose a major threat to the young English talent.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Laurent Koscielny

The Frenchman formed a consistent partnership with Mertesacker last season, but his ability to play alongside Vermaelen still remains in the balance are a string of less than convincing showings over the past two years. Nevertheless, he has developed in to one of the key players among the current Arsenal squad, and has shown an eye for a goal when he is allowed to get in the box at set-pieces.

Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Kieran Gibbs

Gibbs overcame a number of long-term injuries to solidify his place as Arsenal’s first-choice left-back, seeing off the challenge of first Andre Santos and now Nacho Monreal. Hopwever, he is yet to reach the performances of his predecessors Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy, although at 24 years old he still has time to nurture his talent and rival Luke Shaw for the England left-back berth in the years to come. He brings a calmness to the Arsenal left flank, which tends to look rather exposed when he is absent.

Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Mikel Arteta

The Spaniard is another whose future is up in the air due with interest coming from Italian side Fiorentina. However, Arteta has reaffirmed his commitment to his current club and his happiness at living in London, but he faces a task in holding on to his place in the starting XI given the wealth of options that Wenger has available in the middle.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Jack Wilshere

Arsenal’s golden boy has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons this summer, and he faces a potentially career defining season ahead of him that could determine his Arsenal future. With Aaron Ramsey enjoying his best season to date last year that saw him win the club’s player of the season award, Wilshere needs to push on or face being replaced in the first team. A number of injuries have not helped his cause, but a good start to the season could really help him cement his place for both club and country.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Alexis Sanchez

Much like Özil, a lot will be expected to come from Sanchez on the basis that the Gunners shelled out – by their standards – a significant fee to sign him from Barcelona. Sanchez is blessed with speed and his natural instincts in front of goal should help him settle quicker than Özil, but he will be judged on his number of goals. Wenger could look to start him through the middle, although the absence of the injured Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s recovery from injury is likely to see Sanchez start his Arsenal career on the right wing.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Aaron Ramsey

The Gunners will be hopeful that Ramsey can maintain his level of performance from last season after appearing to overcome the thigh injury that kept him out for nearly four months last term. The Welshman was a prominent figure in the Gunners title challenge, and there is no reason why they can’t win further silverware next season with a fit Ramsey in the side. The confidence he should gain from scoring the winning goal in an FA Cup final should see him push on even further.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Santi Cazorla

The Spanish magician is a wanted man with interest coming from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, but Arsenal fans will not want him to leave after showing moments of genius since arriving at the Emirates. He has the tendency to blow hot or cold, as he tends to go missing when he’s not at his best, but his best is a joy to watch. Faces a much bigger fight to keep his place this season following the arrival of Sanchez which could see the attacking midfield trio rejigged to accommodate the Chile star.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI for the Community Shield v Manchester City

Olivier Giroud

Despite calls for him to be replaced – or at least given support – Giroud is likely to continue as Arsenal’s lead striker, at least until the return to fitness of Walcott. Sanchez could take his place through the middle should he start the season slowly, but after showing more last season than he did in his first year with the club, there is an expectation that Giroud can push on further. If he can cut out his habit to miss clear-cut opportunities time and again, he could well contest the league’s top scorer award.

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"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 £35million and is the club's second most expensive signing after Mesut Ozil arrived for £42.4million 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 has his work cut out to get on the pitch this season as he jostles for a starting spot alongside the likes of Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini.

One player who looks increasingly unlikely to feature in Arsenal's season, though, is defender Thomas Vermaelen.

It is understood that Vermaelen is close to a £15million move to Barcelona and could complete the transfer this weekend.

On Thursday, manager Wenger suggested the club's preference was to sell the Belgian abroad, rather than to a domestic rival, with Manchester United also interested.

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