ROBIN VAN PERSIE has challenged Arsenal's flop guns to prove the doubters wrong and start winning silverware next season.

The Gunners faithful made their feelings known following yesterday's dismal 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa as a chorus of boos rang round the Emirates Stadium at full time.

The result leaves third-placed Arsenal sweating on automatic qualification for the Champions League — with Manchester City two points behind with a game in hand.

Since suffering a dramatic last-minute defeat to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final, Arsene Wenger's men have recorded just three wins in all competitions.

Their dreams of a Quadruple imploded in spectacular fashion — leaving some sections of supporters calling for boss Arsene Wenger to splash the cash in the summer.

But van Persie has urged his club-mates to answer their growing number of critics by ending their six-year trophy drought next term.

The Dutchman said: "There were lots of things which went wrong — we were not consistent enough. It is difficult to talk about it now.

"It is going to be difficult to finish third, but we still have one game and have to win that to at least give us a chance.

"Next season we have to try to come back stronger. Everyone starts from scratch and we have a chance, it is up to us to prove it."

Thousands of Arsenal fans had already headed for the Emirates Stadium exits before the squad's lap of appreciation after the defeat to Villa.

Despite seeing victories over Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United this season, the fans — who next season face a 6 per cent hike in ticket prices — have been short-changed as once again a campaign which promised so much failed to deliver.

Wenger accepts the fans have the right to vent their frustrations.

And van Persie added: "The supporters have been great, every single game they have been supporting us tremendously and I am really proud to be a Gunner with them as our fans."

Should Manchester City beat defeated FA Cup finalists Stoke at Eastlands tomorrow, they would climb above the Gunners ahead of the final round of top-flight fixtures next Sunday.

Were Arsenal — who topped the table in late November — to finish fourth, they would face a qualifier to again play in the Champions League, which then means pre-season plans, expected to include a first tour to the Far East, would probably need to be adjusted.

Wojciech Szczesny admits Arsenal's fans had every right to boo their side after Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa and has apologised for their lack of trophies this season.

Arsene Wenger's side have seen their season end in huge disappointment as a run of just two wins in 12 games has seen their hopes of winning a trophy disappear.

And there was frustration at the Emirates before, during and after the defeat to Villa, with fans angry at being asked to accept a 6.5 per cent ticket price increase for next season.


“This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and we should be winning trophies every year. So I totally understand the frustration of the fans, and we apologise for our lack of trophies this season”


But Szczesny, whose progression has been one of the few bright spots of the season, insists the players will make amends next season.

He said: "This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and we should be winning trophies every year. So I totally understand the frustration of the fans, and we apologise for our lack of trophies this season.

"Personally, I am not really happy with our season because we didn't win anything.

"But I think we will have much more desire next season as we know how close we were to winning the Carling Cup and Premier League.

"That gives us more motivation and desire to go for it next year, and obviously we will be one year more experienced."