Arsene Wenger's men have seen a campaign which promised so much fall apart over the past two months.

Their lead at the top of the Premier League was eaten away by both Manchester United and Chelsea before, while their European hopes were extinguished on a night of high drama against Liverpool at Anfield.

Van Persie, 24, was one of the key players sidelined by injury at just the wrong time, and is only now back to full match fitness.

The Holland forward maintains the Gunners have rightly earned a new set of fans with a positive approach this season - and will soon get the rewards their beautiful game deserves.

"All of England, the whole world, everyone watching, has been saying 'what a fantastic team!'," Van Persie told the official Arsenal magazine.

"We just have to make the last step, to win trophies because for the last three years we haven't won anything and that's disappointing.

"People want to come and see us at the highest level because we can play fantastic football, and that is a big step for us because last year everyone was quite sceptical.

"So that is the trophy we have won this year - respect and lots of it.

"It is a big, big compliment for the whole squad because everyone has really given it a go.

"Many teams these days are so negative - they are scared that they do not have the quality, but we aren't, no matter who we are playing."

Van Persie added: "Neutral people are honest, they don't have an agenda and they want to see good football. So it is the biggest compliment you can get from anyone, and this is what we play for.

"But now it's up to us to keep that safe and add to it with real trophies."

There is a deep desire within Arsenal's squad to ensure all the hard work of the past nine months eventually sees them reclaim their tag as the best team in English football.

Defender Kolo Toure sees no reason why he cannot fulfil all his domestic and European ambitions at Emirates Stadium.

"I believe in this team, this club, I love this club I see Arsenal as part of my life now," the Ivory Coast defender, 27, said on Sky Sports News.

"It would be difficult to leave this club, but in football you never know.

"The best thing for me would be to stay at Arsenal and win the Premier League again and win the Champions League.

"I really want to do that for the club as the club has never won it and to be the first people to win the Champions League you would be heroes, that is what I am looking for.

"If I have to spend my whole career at this club and win this trophy, that would be amazing for me.

"I would love it (to stay for life) and if I can win all trophies, that would be fantastic."

Wenger knows keeping key men like Toure, midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini, who is out of contract, is vital to continued progression.

However, the Arsenal manager will have been less than impressed by the continued speculation linking winger Alexander Hleb with a move away.

The Belarus international has played his last club game this season after he was handed a retrospective three-match suspension by the Football Association for slapping Reading captain Graeme Murty during last week's Premier League encounter at Emirates Stadium.

Inter Milan are leading the chase, and earlier this term it was reported former Stuttgart midfielder Hleb held secret talks with Inter while in Milan ahead of Arsenal's Champions League game at the San Siro.

Now Inter coach Roberto Mancini has confirmed to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport: "We have already spoken about the players we would like to sign. We are interested in Hleb, (Gokhan) Inler and (Abdoulay) Konko."

Wenger, meanwhile, could give some of his fringe players a chance to impress in Monday night's clash with relegated Derby at Pride Park.

The likes of Brazilian midfielder Denilson and young Polish keeper Lucas Fabianski could feature against the beleaguered Rams.

As well as having Hleb suspended, Abou Diaby looks set to be out for the best part of two months after rupturing a tendon in his thigh during a reserve game, which also makes him a doubt for Euro 2008 selection with France.

Full-back Bacary Sagna and Flamini (both ankle) are still out.

Winger Tomas Rosicky, meanwhile, continues his rehabilitation from a niggling knee problem in the Czech Republic as he bids to be fit for his country's European assault this summer.