Kolo Toure maintains Arsenal's youngsters will return stronger after being taught a Champions League lesson at the hands of holders Manchester United.
The Gunners' hopes of reaching the final in Rome were effectively ended after just 11 minutes at Emirates Stadium, where the holders raced into a 3-0 aggregate lead with two early goals.
Toure said: "Nobody was expecting a lot for us this season and we showed great spirit and we are really proud of what we have done.
Manager Arsene Wenger admitted it was one the most disappointing nights of his time in charge of the Gunners, whose last trophy came back in 2005 with the FA Cup.
Arsenal have secured fourth place in the Barclays Premier League following an unbeaten run of 21 matches, but another campaign which promised so much has failed to deliver. However, Toure is in no doubt the young squad will have learnt some important lessons after being exposed by the talent of Cristiano Ronaldo and England forward Wayne Rooney.
"We are not far behind those teams. We want to win and we will try to come back and be strong," declared the Ivory Coast defender.
"The only thing we can do at the minute is to just keep players, and if we can bring some more that would be fantastic.
"The spirit is good and we hope we are going to stick together and fight together again next season."
Toure is now fully focused on his future at Arsenal, having handed in a transfer request during January after a reported training ground bust-up with William Gallas.
"When you win trophies it becomes like a habit for you," he said. "This time we did not win anything, but when we get the first trophy, you will see more from Arsenal."
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im an arsenal fan, im f.u.k.i.n disapointed in another trophyless season but get over it and support the team, its true we do need to add a couple of experienced heads to the team to add some more depth mainly in defence, but theres to many people showing no faith in a squad who has proved that at full strength they can beat anyone and can get to the semis of the FA cup and champs league with key players out for long periods, all we need is a couple of players to compliment what we have not to rebuild the whole f.u.k.in squad and get a new manager. as i said before GET OVER IT AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAM.
A REAL GOONER
well the deed has been done lets all look forward to next season,the boys tried their best but obviously was not good enough,wenger please let Adebayor know that he is a striker and not a play maker,he needs to take on defences and not his usual back passes. lets be objective bendtner has improved and he is showing some promises he needs to work on his finishing.I think Arsene Wenger needs to strenghten the team with a defensive midfielder and a strong defender that can play anywhere within the back four.we need to encourage the coaching crew and the players by being constructive in our criticism.I still believe in Arsene and Arsenal.
You fickle fans. Arsene Wenger brought your glory days back to the fore in a beatiful display of football rather than your drap 1-0 of before.
Should he leave then only will you realise the mistake of such an act u idiots. He is the best thing that has happened to you in the last decade!!
You man mark Ronaldo, Nope arsenal didn't do that. Just ball watched.
Played awful the first leg and poorly the second leg, Arsenal played it's best football later on.
Adebayor should be sent packing, the guy has no skill, and instead of the striker he's
supposed to be, has just ended up trying to be a playmaker.
Bendtner is getting better and some of the other youngsters are as well, and the russian arshwin is better then most. He is pure class, when he gets the ball, you feel like somethings going to happen. Just like henry back in the day. and Ronaldo now. They bring that extra excitement and goals to everygame.
Warning to UTD, you won't be able to play the same you did at arsenal. Counter will not work in the final.
Wenger should not go. the people at the top should go.
Goodbye Wenger, we are just not getting the players, motivation or consistency required to progress as one of europes elite
ARSENAL WAS TERRIBLE, THEY ONLY GOT THAT GOAL THROUGH THE REF NEEDING GLASSES AFTER SAYING FLETCHER FOULED...NO WONDER FANS WALKED OUT BEFORE THE GAME WAS OVER.
the present Arsenal...somehow reminds me about a team called Leeds Utd...they were also share d same nickname...young guns..u name it!...n just look what they'd become.
You guys are idiots if you say Wenger must leave surely you cannot be an Arsenal fan if you think that. That said there need to be some serious changes and some signings being done this summer. Toure is the last person to talk, he needs to go. That United first goal was his frist goal not Gibbs'. He was ball watching from OUTSIDE THE BOX!!! Please Mr Wenger buy Hangeland or someone who knows anything about positional play in defense to play alongside Gallas! Maybe even someone like Torsten Frings could be invaluable with his experience in midfield. Please think about your strategies next time we will never succeed with this instinctual play that our players are exhibiting, we need tactical nous!
Im an Ardent Arsenal fan but the truth is Wenger should leave.Arsenal doesnt need to spend as much as MU,Lpool or Chealsea.Imagine the effect of Ashavin and Nasri on the team.A good manager must meet all the objectives profit for the directors and Trophies for the fans.This team will not win anything in the next 3 years if he doesnt buy experienced hands.Fab is great, is he better than lampard,Xavi or iniesta.
Wenger should stop living on past glory,it is what happens now that counts.He should watch the tape of the glory days, the kind of matured players on parade instead of teh school boys he is parading now
Arsenal were a great side until they became a selling club.M.U.F.C
im an arsenal fan an the game was absolute @#$% from a fans point of view,get rid of wenger an get some1 in thas not scared 2 spend money on quality players that we r lacking in defence an up front adeyboyor hasnt bothered since bein linked with ac milan so he can sod off an get some1 decent in
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