Danny Welbeck has urged Arsenal to continue the momentum created by last season's FA Cup success against Chelsea by beating the Blues in the Community Shield on Sunday.
The Gunners won nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions, culminating in victory at Wembley Stadium which prevented Antonio Conte from claiming a double in his debut season.
"Everybody at the club was disappointed with the way we fell away from the top in the league and we know we should have done much better than that," Welbeck told the Evening Standard.
"But to win the FA Cup on the last day of the season gave all of us a bit of light, a bit of positivity, and it was important to end the season that way. It was much needed.
"We knew we should have been doing much better, but we had to stick together as a group and thankfully it all came together in the final. As a group, and as a club, we deserved that.
"Coming into this game, it's one we all want to win and we'll treat it as importantly as any other match. A win would maintain the strong end we had to last season, which is important."
Arsenal finished 18 points behind Chelsea in last season's Premier League and lost 3-0 in a pre-season friendly against the Blues last month.
Giuseppe Labellarte
