Arsenal stars Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Petr Cech fly in style to America as squad step-up pre-season preparations

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The perks of having an airline company as your predominant sponsor means you get to fly in luxury and that's certainly the case for Arsenal.

The Gunners jetted off to America via Emirates Airlines on Monday as they travel across the Atlantic for their pre-season preparations.

Arsene Wenger's side will play friendlies against MLS All-Stars and Guadalajara later this week.

Arsenal squad were all smiles with Emirates Airlines as they flew to America on Monday

Jack WIlshere (left) and Santi Cazorla (right) were among the travelling party in the Arsenal squad

Wilshere poses for a selfie with Gunners team-mates Calum Chambers (left) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Petr Cech (left) and Emiliano Martinez will be hoping to stake their places in goal during the USA tour

Hector Bellerin was sitting comfortably during Arsenal's flight to America as they travelled across the Atlantic

And as they flew out to California, the north London out travelled in style.

Flying out in first class, key first-team members Jack Wilshere, Petr Cech and Santi Carzola were among the travelling party.

The trio were joined by summer signings Rob Holding and Granit Xhaka who looked happy in their new plush surroundings.

One notable absentee from the touring squad was Per Mertesacker. The German didn't travel due to a knee injury.

Summer signing Rob Holding sits next to Wilshere on the plane during Monday's flight

Granit Xhaka (right) also travelled with the squad as he gets to know his new team-mates

And reflecting on last season, the Gunners captain has admitted for the first time that he and his team-mates were lucky to finish second in the Premier League.

The Gunners gazumped north London rivals Tottenham on the last game of the season and only one point separated them from second and third place.

Mertesacker, who has been a major influence in the dressing room at the Emirates since he joined in 2011, believes his side were fortunate to find themselves behind champions Leicester City.

'The way last season went, we were quite lucky to finish,' he told The Sun. 'We turned things around at the end but it was kind of a miracle we finished runners-up.

'What really disappointed us was that Leicester were able to take advantage of all the other big teams suffering and we couldn't do the same.'

Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker admits his side were lucky to finish second in the Premier League last year

Arsene Wenger's side finished 10 points behind champions Leicester and just a point ahead of Tottenham

The Gunners will be hoping to go one better than last season after finishing behind champions Leicester