Fabregas admits Arsenal's failings

Midfielder voices concerns following embarrassing 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea

(GETTY IMAGES)

Cesc Fabregas has accepted Arsenal's need to take a long, honest appraisal of their season after another year of failure.

Their 4-1 capitulation to Chelsea on Sunday was a desperately low point following the optimism of their run of 21 unbeaten games in the Premier League. It followed the comprehensive 4-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final, and before that a 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.

A month ago the possibilities were enticing for Arsenal, who were hitting their peak at the right moment with the return from injury of their two most important players in Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor. But the optimism proved misplaced as their domestic rivals Chelsea and Manchester United delivered a few home truths.

Fabregas admitted that Arsenal were simply not good enough when it came down to it, a frank, honest appraisal that contradicts the blindly positive comments of his manager Arsène Wenger, who retains his blinkered optimism.

Fabregas said: "We went 21 games unbeaten in the league so we know we are good but when we've played in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League we haven't been at the level everyone expected us to reach. Maybe that means something and sometimes you need to be honest with yourself. Our opponents were stronger than us in both of those ties and you just have to go from there, try to see where you made mistakes and try to put them right.

"While we're always positive we know it's difficult to keep everyone happy at this moment because it's the fourth consecutive season in which we haven't won anything."

Wenger's young side were exposed by Chelsea who inflicted Arsenal's heaviest home defeat since 1977, when Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town team won 4-1 at Highbury.

The manager remained adamant that his team would show the "mental strength" to respond to the challenge. But supporters have heard this refrain for too long, and pressure is beginning to mount on the man who has led Arsenal for 13 years.

Home supporters flooded out of the Emirates Stadium on Sunday long before the final whistle and those that remained let their feeling known with a chorus of boos.

Fabregas acknowledged that the growing discontent among Arsenal fans needs to be addressed quickly. "It's frustrating for the fans, who are used to winning things, to see other teams going into finals when we haven't really managed that," he said. "We are disappointed because we know how much effort they put in. It's a shame and we feel very responsible for not making them happy."

Wenger is coming under attack from disgruntled fans who want him to buy some experienced players to add to the youthful blend. But the manager said there is no way he will be tempted to spend his way out of trouble in the summer transfer window.

The Frenchman said: "At the moment, I don't know what funds will be available. I will be told by the club. We have to continue to improve, but the areas where it is right. It is not necessarily about quantity of money."

The defender Mikael Silvestre, brought in last summer to bring greater experience to the back four, believes Wenger's approach will bear fruit over time.

"We don't need many changes I don't think," he said. "The character is there. These players are going to grow. And you learn more when you have defeats like this. It's a good chance to show that we have got what it takes to fight and be on top of the league for next season. It's a chance for players to show they have the will and the attitude to defend the Arsenal colours.

"Also we can't forget that William Gallas has been injured, Gaël Clichy is injured. Andrei Arshavin also, so that is three experienced players who were missing against Chelsea. So I think with those guys back, we don't need massive changes for next season."