Captain Cesc Fabregas is back in business

Published: 2 September, 2010|
by STEVE BARNETT

ARSENE Wenger is adamant that Cesc Fabregas is ready and raring to resume his role as Arsenal captain following an exhausting summer both on and off the pitch.

The 23-year-old, (Above) who is still working his way back to full fitness after helping Spain win the World Cup, started his first game of the season on Saturday when he featured for just over an hour in the Gunners’ 2-1 win at Blackburn.

Fabregas was also involved in one of the biggest transfer sagas of the summer as his boyhood club Barcelona tried to lure him back to the Camp Nou, a story that rumbled on until early August when he finally confirmed he would stay in north London.

After the deserved victory at Ewood Park, Wenger confirmed that his skipper would very soon assume every aspect of the role.

“He will be the player he was before without any problem and he will be stronger.

“He is our leader, he is the leader of our team and he has a massive responsibility.

“I am convinced he will stand up for it.”

Wenger gave the Spanish midfielder a good run out before subbing him for Tomas Rosicky in the 68th minute, a move that the Frenchman admitted Fabregas knew nothing about.

“Cesc loves to play and that is why I did not tell him he could come off before the game.

“He did not know he would come off. He had not played since the World Cup final. That was on July 11 and we are now at the end of August.

It is difficult and he should be ready for the next game.”

Meanwhile the transfer window closed on Tuesday without Arsenal signing a goalkeeper after Mark Schwarzer decided to stay at Fulham.