I nearly bought a Blackburn ticket a week ago just so I could attend another match before the summer break. Even though it is no a complete non-event, I wanted a last Arsenal fix before the events in South Africa kick-off.

But I came to my senses and have invested the many in a ticket to the FA Trophy final between my local club Stevenage Borough and Barrow. I have been to see Boro on several occasions this season, usually when I have been unable to attend Arsenal home games. I'm NOT a Stevenage fan, but the thought of a day out at Wembley and a chance to see a team who also play in red and white win a trophy proved to much to ignore. Such is my craving to cheer a team lifting silverware.

I would of course prefer to see Cesc lifting silverware above his head in the centre circle at Ashburton Grove, but my feeling is that this may never happen in our skipper's time at the club, and I am not convinced we will see it with Arsene Wenger at the helm.

I have been left feeling empty and deflated since the disgrace that was Wigan. More so this season than the previous four failed attempts at silverware.

Why? Because even though the team has hardly improved since last year, Man Utd and Chelski have got considerably worse, and we have failed to take advantage of this. I still fancy United to come out on top, and if they do, they will have lost seven games. That's very poor by their standards.

We have got within spitting distance of the top two on three occasions this season, and every time we have simply bottled it. This season is a one off. The top two will not lose that amount of games next year. United will spend in the summer to help support Shrek more, Chelski will probably spend £30-£40 Million, as will the Spuds. Only God himself knows how much Citeh will spend. £80-£100 million perhaps. They can have Walcott for a knockdown £30 million!

And us? £20m at the most probably. Newcaslte will probably spend more than us.

2009-10 will go down as a missed opportunity for our average team to win an average league. Next season will be a lot tougher, and unless we see real changes to our playing squad in the next three months, finishing third will be the very best we can hope for.

And I'm sorry but that leaves me feeling empty...