Cesc Fabregas Claims Arsenal Didn't Re-Sign Him as They Had Mesut Ozil

Cesc Fabergas has revealed in an interview with Rob Beasley of The Sun (subscription required) that Arsenal decided not to take up the option to buy him as they felt Mesut Ozil was a better option.

Fabregas took the decision to leave Barcelona in the summer, with a potential lack of playing time at his first club prompting him to take the decision to move on.

The Premier League was the only possible destination, the player has confirmed, which raised the prospect of a return to Arsenal.

When Fabregas left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2011, a clause was inserted in his contract that the Gunners would have first option should he ever leave the Spanish giants.

The player spoke to Arsenal about returning to the club in the summer just gone, but he was informed that they had Ozil in his preferred position so would not be taking up the option to re-sign him.

In his interview with Beasley, Fabregas said:

"

I was always going back to the Premier League because, to me, there's no other league around the world that's better than it.

Arsenal had the first option—it was written in the contract—and so they could have said 'yes' but they decided not to. They told me now Ozil was there, there was no need for me.

That's life. No problem. We move on. Life moves on. Football moves on.

"

Chelsea stepped in, and Fabregas has not looked back. He has six assists to his name in the Premier League already, and opened his account for the Blues with a goal against Schalke in the Champions League on Wednesday.

There are still many Arsenal fans who are not happy about Fabregas’ decision to make the move to Chelsea, but the Spain international has no regrets:

"

Changing clubs is part of the game and people must remember it was Arsenal who didn't take up the buy-back option for me.

What am I going to do, retire? No way.

I can understand some people at Arsenal are sad, some people are upset, some people are even angry. But I have to look after myself. I had to make a decision.

Any team I would have gone to, apart from Arsenal, it would have been bad to them.

"

While Fabregas has hit the ground running, Ozil has had a tough start to the current season.

The German did produce a fine display in the win over Aston Villa on Saturday, but Arsenal fans will want to see him do it on a consistent basis.

Time will tell who of the midfield pass masters proves the top dog this season.