Arsenal youngster Hector Bellerin has expressed his delight at having ended pre-season on an optimistic note by beating Chelsea to lift the Community Shield on Sunday.
The Gunners have been in hot form so far this summer winning the Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore, the Emirates Cup at home and the Community Shield at Wembley.
According to the young right-back, it is a great feeling and will help boost the team's confidence ahead of the new season.
The win against the Pensioners is also special, the 20-year-old feels, as it helps to lift a huge weight off the shoulders of Arsenal players.
The north London-based outfit had not beaten Chelsea since 2011, when they won 5-3 at Stamford Bridge. However, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first-half strike helped to bring an end to that run, thus giving mental peace to Arsene Wenger and his team and Bellerin is delighted to have achieved that just ahead of the domestic season kick-off.
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“We knew it was going to be hard against the winners of the league”, Bellerin told his club's official website.
“We know that a Chelsea side is always physical and they have pace up front. We knew it would be difficult but the team responded well and we’re very happy.
“For a few years there have been a lot of games and we didn’t seem to get the victory against them. It’s a weight off our shoulders for the boss, for the fans, for the club in general. We’re very happy that we’ve started the season like this.
“I think pre-season, both in Asia and at the Emirates Cup, has been really good for the team. It’s been a great experience to finish the pre-season with a win at Wembley at Chelsea.
"I think that will be a big boost for the team."
