'I totally understand the frustration of the fans, and we apologise for our lack of trophies' - Wojciech Szczesny bemoans Arsenal's failure

The Polish youngster feels a club the size of the Gunners should be "winning trophies every year", but hopes that struggles this season will spur side on to Premier League success

Arsenal's rookie goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has apologised, on behalf of the rest of the squad, to the club's supporters after the side failed to pick up a trophy this season.

Sunday's dismal 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa - a third loss in the past four matches - leaves Arsenal vulnerable to being beaten to third place in the Premier League by Manchester City, which would mean having to face a Champions League qualifier at the beginning of next season.

Up until February, the Gunners were in contention for an unprecedented quadruple, however, a dramatic defeat to Birmingham in the League Cup final was followed by defeat in the Champions League to Barcelona and an FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United.

Add to that a complete collapse to their Premier League title bid, with just three wins since the end of March, and it has all added up to huge disappointment for the club's supporters.

"I totally understand the frustration of the fans, and we apologise for our lack of trophies this season," Szczesny said.

"This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and we should be winning trophies every year."

The 21-year-old Polish keeper is looking to take the positives from the season and believes that this campaign's collapse should stand the side in good stead for an assault on the title next year.

"We will have much more desire next season as we know how close we were this season to win the Carling Cup and Premier League," added Szczesny.

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

"Obviously I am happy to be playing for Arsenal and I am trying to do my best, but if we look at this season we never won a trophy, so it is disappointing for me.

"I think we have the quality to be winning the Premier League.

"It is just a matter of can we make that next step?"