Hector Bellerin described Arsenal’s 1-0 Community Shield victory against Chelsea as “a weight off our shoulders”. The Gunners hadn’t beaten their London rivals since 2011, however a stunning goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ended that run.
Hector Bellerin, who had a very successful debut campaign last season, continued his impressive form against Chelsea. After the game, he spoke with Arsenal Player and said: “We knew it was going to be hard against the winners of the league.”
Despite the current Premier League champions having a number of strengths, including their attacking options, they came up short against an Arsenal side who have vastly improved their defending in recent months: “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.”
Chelsea have been tricky opposition in recent years, and Bellerin emphasised on the importance of the win: “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.”
The Community Shield victory caps off an excellent pre-season for Arsenal, who also won the Barclays Asia Trophy and the Emirates Cup. The win at Wembley marks Arsenal’s 6th in a row at the home of football: “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.”
