Premier League: Why Cesc Fabregas needs to stay at Arsenal
The summer before last, it was Cristiano Ronaldo, and this summer it is the curious case of Cesc Fabregas. Barcelona is h**l-bent on taking the striker to Nou Camp, and Arsenal is h**l-bent upon keeping him at the Emirates Stadium. The tug of war is set to continue till the 31st of August when the transfer window closes, and it seems only then will the fans know the fate of the player.
Fabregas spent the whole World Cup warming the bench for Spain, a team that is in essence same as the team from Cataluña minus Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi (for example, seven Barca players were in the starting line-up for the World Cup final against Netherlands).
Over at Arsenal, Cesc is the undisputed captain of the side (for as long as he decides to stay at the club), and the team is built around him.
When Vicente Del Bosque did not consider Fabregas as his first choice in the World Cup, there is no reason for Josep Guardiola to have a different point of view, and at Arsenal he is guaranteed to be on the playing field for as long as he is fit, as he is coach Arsene Wenger’s go-to man.
It is without a doubt that players like Xavi, Iniesta and co. will need a break every now and then, and what better player can they dream for as their replacement, but honestly speaking, how would Cesc feel if he has to wait for an injury to a friend to be guaranteed a place in the side? Also, while Cesc is a guaranteed starter at Arsenal, why would he want to swap places in the starting line-up with a place at the bench at Camp Nou?
Every Barcelona player is campaigning vociferously for Cesc to come to Barcelona; so much so that even a Liverpool player is involved in this, but that may be just because of the fact that Jose Manuel Reina does not want to face Cesc in the Premier League. Barcelona doesn’t even want to pay the money Fabregas is worth, and he still has a couple of years left on his contract.
Given the current financial situation at the Catalan club, considering the 125 million Euro loan that they had to take to pay out player’s wages, Barcelona don’t even have enough money to pay the price that Cesc is worth (easily around 40 million pounds) and are using Cesc’s friends to try him to get to force Arsenal to sell him, and that is a cheap tactic to get a cheap price. Is Cesc really that daft that he can’t see all this?
It is without a doubt that he truly loves Barcelona and wants to join his boyhood club, and has even stated so in a timely fashion. He wants to win trophies but he can even do so at Arsenal, as manager Arsene Wenger is out in the market and is trying to buy some good players; he is even on the lookout for a new keeper.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to go to a club that you love and where you spent you childhood, but does he want to leave the London club without having won a single trophy as a captain? Does he want to win medals, just like he did for Spain, from the bench?
Instead, he may want to prove to the world that he is truly a great player, able to inspire and lead a young team to glory. If he decides to stick with Arsenal and leave after winning the Premier League, no one can blame him, and even Arsene will let him go happily.
All Cesc needs to do is go to Wenger and say that he will stay in the team if he spends decent money in the market and brings quality players in the team that can help Arsenal mount a challenge for the title.
He can surely go back to Barcelona in a couple of years’ time; when Xavi will be a little older and he will have a place in the starting 11. He certainly has time on his side.
No matter what happens, Cesc Fabregas will always be one of the best players that ever pulled on the red and white outfit of Arsenal; however, he could be the greatest if he just gives it a shot.
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