Arsene Wenger Comments on Cesc Fabregas' Departure from Arsenal

Ahead of Sunday's Emirates Stadium reunion, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he's yet to speak with former charge Cesc Fabregas since he made his Premier League return last summer.

The Gunners host league leaders Chelsea this weekend, but after declining the chance to re-sign Fabregas last year, Wenger is quoted by The Telegraph's Matt Law as saying he feels no obligation to reach out to the Blues talisman:  

"The regret I have is that he wanted to leave here," he said. "This club and myself had a very positive influence on Cesc’s life, so I would be a bit uncomfortable to have to justify today why he is not here. I believe I would rather it was the other way around."

Akira Suemori/Associated Press

One can certainly understand the motivations Fabregas may have felt before making the choice to move back to Barcelona, his boyhood club, in the summer of 2011.

The opportunity to return to his native land and potentially form a part of Barca's midfield metronome in the long term is something that would tempt any in Fabregas' position; it's the choice to move to Chelsea that may cause friction at the Emirates.

DAVE THOMPSON/Associated Press

Fabregas was a part of the Chelsea squad that beat Arsenal 2-0 at Stamford Bridge back in October, but Sunday's clash signals his return to his old north London stomping ground.

Despite the notion he may encounter a hostile reception, the fixture is about a lot more than one player alone and certainly not those men on the sideline, according to Wenger, quoted by BBC Sport as adding:

"

What is important is to have a great game. That's what English football needs, to know that Arsenal against Chelsea is a big game and not about the relationship between the managers. I am not a great believer in history. We have not always lost in 12 attempts. We have come close to beating them a few times and they have always had very strong teams.

I just think football is down to the fact that the performance on the day will decide the game and the result. We are on a good run, we have an opportunity to beat them at home, and we want to take it.

"

Had Arsenal managed to hold off the threat of Birmingham City and claim the 2011 League Cup, convincing Fabregas to stay as a result, there's no telling how they or Chelsea would be faring at present.

However, in choosing not to exercise the £30 million buy-back option in the playmaker's Barcelona contract, Wenger also chose to allow the player free rein over where he ended up, London rival or not.

MANU FERNANDEZ/Associated Press

As the story goes, Fabregas has gone on to play a talismanic role under Jose Mourinho in his first season at Stamford Bridge, showing all those in north London what they're missing out on.

That good form has translated into European contests too, with Squawka depicting what a superb puppeteer the player has been for Chelsea in this term's Champions League:

Wenger is of course correct to assert he has no obligation to make contact with his former player. As far as he's concerned, they are rivals, and there need be no great scrutiny beyond that fact.

Perhaps after Sunday's head-to-head, the protege and mentor of years gone by will rediscover the connection once held, but Wenger holds no illusions over where he stands on Fabregas' Arsenal exit.