Francesc Fabregas Alludes To Potential Stay At Arsenal For Life

Arsenal star midfielder and captain Francesc Fabregas has once again proclaimed his allegiance to Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, shunning the continued interest from boyhood club Barcelona, and even hinted at the possibility of finishing his career with the club where he made his name.

As the presidential campaign at Barcelona hots up, speculation has been rife about potential purchases by the Catalan giants during the next two transfer windows, and outgoing president Joan Laporta has already alluded to how a verbal contract with their former 'son', Fabregas, has been made.

Cesc, though maintains the professional stance he has adopted since the first-wave rumours of a return to Spain emerged, opting to quell the paper-talk before the speculation escalates. "It does not affect me at all," Fabregas stated to Press Association Sport. "This [speculation] has been going for years.

"I don't mind really, if it happens, it happens - but it will not change the way I think. I do not think about it because I do not want to and I do not think I should.

"I am at a great club, with a great team and am happy.

"We have a long season in front of us, and the last thing I want to do is get disconnected from what I have to do playing for Arsenal, who are the club which pays me.

"I am really looking forward to a great season with Arsenal," he affirmed.

When probed as to whether he has pondered playing at Ashburton Grove until he retires, he answerered: "Why not? I have never really thought about it, staying here all my life, because I am only 22 and you never know what your career will bring - but why not?

"It is my seventh season now, I am really happy, better than ever, so you never know."

"It was difficult at the start - I am a guy who does not like to say to everyone 'come on', because I feel I am nobody to say these things.

"I have learned a lot. I know my job and responsibilities as a captain now.

"Everybody is helping me, and together we are all doing very well.

"It is true more than before that if I need to say something now, I feel more capable than maybe a year ago."

The Spaniard warned his Premier League rivals: "We can achieve trophies here. We have played some finals, been fighting for the Premier League, the Champions League and just not quite done it.

"But I am really happy with this club, focusing on winning things and we are more than capable of doing it this season."

Arsenal, though, recently suffered their third defeat of the Premier League season when they lost to Sunderland by a scoreline of one goal to nothing. However, the Gunners can get their season back on track by taking maximum points off Chelsea, a side whom they trail by eight points, when they meet at the Emiratesnext Sunday.

"The Chelsea game is vital. We have to win, and we will be ready for it. Chelsea are a great team, one of the best in Europe, are very strong and have been playing together for a long time.

"They know each other very well, and you can see that on the pitch. I respect them a lot, but I know what we can do as well. If we play like we can at our best, then we can beat them.

"With the game in hand we have as well, we could still be there.

"But first of all, we think about the [Standard] Liege game tomorrow [in the Champions League], and then about Chelsea, but, yes, it is an important week for us."

Alan Dawson, Goal.com UK