Cesc Fabregas' False Idol

Good morning (just about), it's nice to be able to get up and write at a civilised hour for once, and even nicer not to feel the burn of energy drinks at an oppressive time of morning. So having risen at a borderline acceptable hour, the time has come to have a look around and see what Arsenal news can be dug up.

Sadly we begin with Cesc Fabregas and Barcelona, as we have all too frequently this summer already.  Cesc calls Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola his 'idol', saying:

"I won't think about anything until after the World Cup," 

"It won't be a problem if I return to Barcelona because Barca is my home. The people there are always sensational in the way they treat me."

"Guardiola has always been my idol since childhood. I played in his position and I noticed him. 

"My coach even gave me a shirt signed by him."

All in all it's not what you'd want to be hearing from Cesc, but he still hasn't given Barcelona the public declaration that he wants to leave Arsenal, which is what they want from him, and I don't think they'll get it either. 

Everything I said the other day still applies, I don't think that this is the right time for Cesc to go back to Barcelona. Yes, I know it's his home and his idols and whatever else, but it doesn't change that going to Barcelona at this moment is not the right thing for his career. He will struggle to play in his favoured position every week if he signs for Barcelona now.

His signing for Barcelona is, of course, entirely contingent on Arsenal consenting to sell him, which it would have been nice to hear some acknowledgement of that from him. He did talk about Arsene Wenger and his respect for him, saying: 

"He (Arsene Wenger) means everything to me. He is the person who put his trust in me,"

"Without him, I don't know if I would be a professional footballer today. I owe him a lot and I have a special affection for him."

In many respects Cesc didn't say anything that was new to us in his comments yesterday, but I feel that his approach up to this point—basically saying nothing—was the correct one. He won't do himself any favours by talking publicly about the situation, no matter how respectful he tries to be about it. 

Moving on,  Marouane Chamakh has been speaking about his old Bordeaux teammate Yoann Gourcuff, saying it would be "terrific" if he joined Arsenal. I'm sure it would, but since we are currently facing a daily delivery of a certain other club's players talking about one of ours joining them, I think perhaps Marouane could do better to keep his observations about Gourcuff private for now.

Not too much else going on it must be said. Of course the World Cup goes on today with some tasty games. Chile vs Spain later (which  Cesc talks about, as well as having some kind words for the USA team) and Brazil vs Portugal in the afternoon. Very nice games to have on your day off, I must say.  Arsene Wenger feels Spain may pay the price for some of the injury problems they came into the tournament with.

I didn't catch too much of yesterday's games so I missed Robin Van Persie's first goal of the tournament, as well as that remarkable game in which Slovakia beat Italy 3-2, I think I'll go and dig up some highlights in a bit.

For now though, breakfast is calling. Talk to you tomorrow.