Arsenal looked on course to win both the Premier League and the Champions League earlier this season, but a run of five games without victory in the league all but ended their title hopes in March while they went out of Europe after Liverpool claimed a controversial late penalty in April.

The club has suffered further blows since, with and Alexander Hleb apparently eyeing a move to Internazionale or Barcelona.

But Van Persie believes the players were unfortunate not to win the Champions League this year and insists they will prove that they are a great side in the near future.

"I am 100 per cent convinced we will soon win big trophies," he told the Mail on Sunday.

"When that happens, I know the whole world will be behind us. It will be a lasting memory if we win it with our style of play.

"We started great, but at the last hurdle we did not make it. We were very unlucky.

"Against Liverpool in the Champions League, we were more or less in the semi-final six minutes from the end.

"We get one unfair penalty against us and we are out of the Champions League.

"Should we put our philosophy and vision on the way Arsenal play overboard because of one lousy penalty? I don't think so."