No trophies, but Arsenal can still be proud of this season

Robin van Persie says fans should take pride in Arsenal s season - despite missing out on silverware for a fifth successive campaign. The Gunners are now in their longest barren run since 1987 but the Netherlands international, who made his first start fo

Robin van Persie says fans should take pride in Arsenal's season - despite missing out on silverware for a fifth successive campaign.

The Gunners are now in their longest barren run since 1987 but the Netherlands international, who made his first start for five months in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Manchester City, believes the side has improved.

Van Persie was speaking after Arsene Wenger claimed the striker was one of the best in the world.

Reacting to that, the Rotterdam-born attacker said: "I still have to prove it, but I hope to be in that place one day.

"I think I have the qualities to do so, but you need time, you need games and you need to be fit.

"It may sound crazy, but we can be proud of what we have done this year because of the injuries we have had. Now, I just want to have a season without injuries."

The draw meant Arsenal are now mathematically out of the title race, although it all-but assured them of third place.

"We are nearly there," said Wenger. "It is 90% now, but not yet 100.

"I am not used to games like this. We created very little chances. City did not create anything; they were highly focused on defending and gave us no space.

"We could not find an opener. It was a locked game of very few chances.

"But we did not throw everything forwards blindly, because we knew we could not afford to lose.

As to who will finish in the coveted fourth place, he was not so sure.

"It is very difficult to predict," he added. "The game between Man City and Tottenham next week will be the decider. City have home advantage but it will be interesting until the end.