The shackles and pressure on the Arsenal players has been lifted, claims Spaniard Santi Cazorla, as Arsenal eye repeat success in the coming season.
After previous failings in cup finals over past seasons the emphasis on the importance of last season's FA Cup success was huge for the future of Arsenal Football Club, now the nine year barren spell is over and at long last Arsenal fans have something to be proud of.
Although Arsenal made sure they put the patience of their fans through the thick of it, they eventually overcame a brave Hull City side in the final, after trailing for the best part of an hour.
With Arsenal 2-0 down flashbacks of dissapointment echoed around the Wembley terraces as fans feared for the worse.
But the rest was history as Arsenal fought back to overcome their opponents 3-2 and lift their first piece of silverware since their FA Cup success back in 2005.
Since then Arsenal have been on an upwards path and have given fans more reason to fuel their already optimistic hopes for the coming season.
Additions to the squad such as Chilean World Cup star Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona and the recent David Ospina signing, aswell as replacing the departing Bacary Sagna with fellow countryman Mathieu Debuchy have fueled talks amongst the North-London sides fans that this season could be another promising one.
With last years champions Manchester City yet to add any big name signings to their squad and Arsene Wenger doing his business very early, Arsenal have caught many by surprise as they continue to strengthen.
Cazorla told Spanish newspaper 'Marca': "I think (the FA Cup win) has changed the pressure on us heading into the new season. It liberated us in a certain way.
"The team, after so many years without winning anything, were aware of the tension at important times."
However, since scoring the costless-kick that got Arsenal back into the final, speculation surrounding Cazorla's own future has been rife with many newspapers reporting the midfielder is a summer target for last seasons La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.
The media were largely involved in dictating the rumours that Cazorla was unhappy at the club and wanted to engineer a move away, however in light of recent reports the Spaniard told reporters during the clubs tour in New York: ‘I am staying, I’m very happy playing for Arsenal and the team now is more strong with the new players,’ he finished by saying: ‘I hope we win the trophy for the fans"