Football
John Brewin, ESPN FC 9y

Arsenal serious about winning, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says to Roy Keane

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has dismissed Roy Keane's suggestion that Arsenal have too many players who are "more interested in selfies and six-packs" to challenge for the Premier League.

"We're serious about winning trophies," said Oxlade-Chamberlain, speaking after scoring the winner in Sunday's Community Shield victory over Chelsea. "Personally and I can speak for the rest of the squad, we've been serious every single year I've been at the club about winning trophies.

"You can see that on the pitch when we're playing, through the season. A lot of people don't see when we lose and go through tough times how upset and disappointed we are. We've always wanted to win trophies and in the last years we've won a few. This season we want to go that one better."

Former Manchester United captain Keane had said at the weekend: "Listen, every year we hear the same thing about Arsenal being contenders. Instead of focusing on the Premier League, it's all about how their bodies look, how their hair is, more so than winning football matches."

The Gunners repeated last year's feat of following up lifting the FA Cup in May by winning the preseason showpiece. Oxlade-Chamberlain said there was real confidence within the squad.

"We've all been together a good number of years, we've shared two consecutive successes in the FA Cup and we've had the highs and the nice feeling from that," he said. "As a team we've suffered some upsets as well and I think we've grown from that and learnt from that."

"The addition of Petr Cech will certainly help us," said Oxlade-Chamberlain of the goalkeeper who joined Arsenal from Chelsea this summer. "He's a quality player but him as an individual and a character that won things, that's another one with the winning mentality getting in our squad and can only help us going forward."

Arsene Wenger could at last celebrate victory over Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho at his 14th attempt.

"It was more important for us that we got a win against Chelsea," said Oxlade-Chamberlain. "I don't want to talk about the managers too much, the side that gets put out are the players that play for Chelsea and that we have to beat.

"Obviously, Jose is a fantastic manager and he's shown that over a number of years. He's got great tactics. It's obviously important that we can compete with those teams and we've always got to try to go one better and win. We managed to do that this time."

Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal and fine performance came after last season was interrupted by injury.

"I'm not sure if I've done more work than normal," he said, after his goal capped a fine preseason for him. "In the back end of last season and recent times I've almost had to do more to give myself the best possible chance.

"The medical and fitness teams have been really good, not just for me but all the boys through preseason. I believe we're all at a good level physically. We're not 100 percent there yet -- that comes a few weeks into the season. But they've done a really good job on us and I feel good."

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