Cesc offers stark assessment

Arsenal skipper reflects on a trophyless season for the Gunners

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 6th May 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Cesc offers stark assessment

Fabregas: Disappointed

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Cesc Fabregas admits Arsenal's continued failings in pursuit of silverware are unacceptable.

The Gunners have gone four long years without a trophy, with their last success coming in the 2005 FA Cup final.

The 2008/09 campaign promised much, with Arsene Wenger's talented youngsters expected to come of age.

However, the season has delivered little, with a fourth place finish in the Premier League representing the height of their achievements.

They did reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and the last four of the FA Cup but came up short on each occasion, against Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.

Expectations

Club captain Fabregas knows a club like Arsenal cannot afford to waste such opportunities and accepts that the north London outfit need to raise their game if they are to start collecting major honours.

He said: "We have gone 21 consecutive games without being beaten [in the Premier League] and that shows from the beginning to the end we have improved a lot - but when you play in these sort of competitions you have to be at your best and we have not been at our best.

"Fourth spot for Arsenal, I do not think is good enough.

"We have not been at the level that everyone expected for Arsenal Football Club, that is for sure."

The Spain Euro 2008 winner added: "We have to try to finish the season as well as we can and be ready for next summer because as we have seen this year the start of the season is really important."