LONDON -- Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey paid tribute to new goalkeeper Petr Cech after the summer signing kept old club Chelsea at bay.
Victory over their London rivals in Sunday's Community Shield -- Arsene Wenger's first over Jose Mourinho in 14 attempts -- offered good signs for the season ahead at the Emirates.
A first-half goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was enough for the Gunners to take the trophy for the second year running, to secure four Arsenal wins in a row at Wembley.
"It's been a few games since we've lost here, so hopefully we can continue building on that," Ramsey said.
"[Cech] is obviously a top-class goalkeeper with a lot of experience. He made a couple of good saves. Over the course of the season, hopefully he can save us a few points.
"You can sense that in this team something has clicked into place and everyone knows what they are doing, and we are heading in the right direction. We feel confident we can go and win games. Hopefully we can take that into the new season and keep everybody fit."
Mourinho complimented Arsenal on their defensive work in his postmatch news conference while saying "the best team lost."
Ramsey said Arsenal's victory owed much to sticking to their gameplan.
"We had to sit in at times today, but I think we have learned over the years how to play against the bigger teams now, and sometimes you have to do that, and get them on the counterattack," Ramsey said.
"They've done that so well against us in the past."
Ramsey spoke of a growing confidence within the Arsenal squad ahead of next week's Premier League kickoff, which they begin by hosting West Ham. Last season, the Gunners followed victory at Wembley over Manchester City by winning just two matches from their first nine.
"It's important to just go into the start of the season and focus on those games and get off to a good start," he said. "If we do that and keep everybody fit, we'll have a good chance. We have to get off to a good start but we saw how strong Chelsea were throughout the season, and they stayed top for the best season."
A nine-year trophy drought, ended by 2014's FA Cup, has been followed by two Community Shields after May's 4-0 destruction of Aston Villa in the 2015 FA Cup final in May.
"I think there's always pressure at Arsenal to win trophies, it's nothing new, and to us as players, we know what we are capable of doing," Ramsey said. "I am not a betting man, but we all feel confident we can produce something this season."