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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says Arsenal are not all about selfies

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02:  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (L) of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates Santi Cazorla (R)  during
Image: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain bagged the only goal of the game at Wembley on Sunday

Attacking midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says it is incorrect to say the Arsenal players are not dedicated to winning trophies.

The England man was responding to well-publicised comments made by former Manchester United captain Roy Keane ahead of Arsenal’s 1-0 Community Shield victory over Chelsea on Sunday.

The Gunners have not won the Premier League title since 2003/04 and Keane said he thinks the current squad are "more interested in selfies and six-packs" than finishing as champions.

But Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored the winner on Sunday, says that, while many of the Arsenal squad enjoy using social media, it has no impact on their desire for honours.

“It is a new era, isn't it?” he said. “Some people do it, some don't (use social media sites).

“We are serious about winning trophies. Personally, and I can speak for the rest of the squad, we have been serious every single year I have been at the club about winning trophies.

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs, Calum Chambers, Aaron Ramsey and Chuba Akpom of Arsenal take a selfie as they travel to Singapore
Image: Oxlade Chamberlain says selfies don't distract Arsenal from their main targets

"You can see that on the pitch when we are playing, through the season.

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"A lot of people don't see how upset and disappointed we are when we lose and go through tough times.

"We have always wanted to win trophies and in the last years we have won a few. This season we want to go that one better."

Bolstered by former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, Arsenal are expected to challenge on several fronts this season.

And they did their morale no harm on Sunday when they recorded a first win over a Jose Mourinho-managed Chelsea side in 14 attempts.

Oxlade-Chamberlain said: "Ever since I have been at Arsenal, we have had numerous quality players and the whole squad has been very strong.

“It just seemed that, in the big games, we came up short sometimes and you wonder why.

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Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal's Community Shield win over champions Chelsea will give his players a psychological lift going into the new season

"The mentality going into those games was definitely a big thing. Since I have been here we've steadily got better at that, especially last year.

"The addition of Petr Cech will certainly help us. He is a quality player but also an individual and a character who won things.

"That's another one with the winning mentality in our squad and it can only help us going forward."

Regarding the defeat of Chelsea, Oxlade-Chamberlain added: "It does help the confidence and that belief and faith going into that next fixture against them.

"It is a long season and it is very early doors. We can't get too carried away but it is a good end to our pre-season, which has gone really well."

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