Cesc Fabregas: Ready For Captaincy?

Statistics don't lie. Fabregas is probably one of the most talented midfielders in Arsenal's history. He played a total of 43 games last season, scored 13 goals and assisted 23 times. For such a young player, Fabregas is already a creative force at Arsenal.

At 21, Fabregas is still too young to realise his potential as one of the world's football maestro. Although he is a regular at Arsenal, he has not cemented a first team spot in the Spanish national team. Instead, Xavi and Ineista is often preferred.

This season, there has been talk about Fabregas replacing Gallas as Arsenal's new captain. We have all seen Gallas' unnecessary petulance in the middle of St. Andrews stadium last season and many Arsenal fans are rubbing their hands in glee with the prospect of Fabregas as captain.

Honestly, it is not a wild dream. Fabregas has shown the maturity and the composure to dominate the midfield. His style of play seeks to dominate the tempo of the game, picking out his team mates at will with his pin point passes.

It will be no surprise if he can translate this style of play into his leadership capabilities. With Wenger seeking to build a team around Fabregas after Henry's departure, it could only be a matter of time before Fabregas is given the captain's armband.

The more serious question that we have to ask ourselves now is whether Fabregas is ready for it. Fabregas is a fine footballer to watch when Arsenal are up and ahead. However, when the chips are down, Fabregas tends to fade into oblivion. And this was evident in last season's 4-0 thrashing by Man Utd in the FA cup. Fabregas was a mere pedestrian in that game.

Perhaps, Fabregas lacks the dribbling ability of Cristiano Ronaldo. Sure, Fabregas can split defences with a through ball but he can't turn the game around by his own. Fabregas can pass but he can't dribble and beat defenders. If you compare Ronaldo and Fabregas, you know that both of them are world class players but you cannot deny that Ronaldo is more effective in leading a team out of trouble when the chips are down.

My point here is that Fabregas is a genius in his own right but just not a player that can single-handedly lift a team when they are down.

And that is where it is important, should he become a captain of Arsenal, that he should have this ability to inspire the team.

This lack of this ability plus the usual criticisms of Fabregas' aversion for goals and light-weight nature is a disadvantage, should the armband ever be given to him.

Hence, let's not get too carried away with the prospect of Fabregas taking over as captain in the near future. There are still many aspects of his game that needs improving. The captaincy will arrive with his eventual maturity.