World Cup 2010: Captain Fabtastic Gives Spain the World Cup on a Plate

Well, a lot of us Gooners had not wanted it to happen deep down, but it has. And, begrudgingly, congratulations are due to the Spain national team, who have now added the most-coveted World Cup 2010 to their European crown of 2008, ruthlessly brushing off the "underachieving chokers" tag.

This morning, as Gooners, we can also all proudly claim that the one man who has had the telling effect in this Spain triumph more than most in Soccer City, was indeed none other than Francesc Fàbregas I Soler, Arsenal's fourth World Cup winner. Our very own Captain, whose club future, media commitments, and role within the Spain squad for this World Cup have all come into question time and again over the last four weeks.

However, the twenty-three year-old has done himself proud, brushing aside all the talk and making an immediate impact in last night's finale after coming on for the somewhat pedestrian Xabi Alonso. Spain immediately regained a serene composure in midfield, Cesc could, and probably should've opened the scoring for La Roja early in extra-time, and ultimately, his perfectly weighted ball into the path of the equally superb Andres Iniesta gifted the Spaniards their biggest ever goal.

As for the rest of the final itself, well it was gripping on the whole, but a relatively dismal affair; certainly not as entertaining as many have hoped. A lot was made here about Howard Webb and his team's appointment to officiate the showpiece finale (surprise, surprise), and one can assume that the Yorkshireman will grab the headlines in Holland. For all the wrong reasons, that is.

A lot will be made of the way Webb failed to upend the Spain defence for a foul on Dutch sub Eljero Elia seconds prior to Spain's breakaway winner, as well as the umpteen cards dished out. However, Robin van Persie and Holland really cannot complain. The better team on the night won, and, overall, you would have to say that Spain are deserved world champions.

Speaking of van Persie, I had previously alluded that some of his teammates behind him often deliberately refused to provide him with the necessary ammunition with which to perform. Having seen another 120 minutes of our star striker up front for Oranje, that belief has certainly been strengthened. For all the talk of this Dutch side's improved spirit and so forth, the same old egotistical malarkey infests the likes of Robben and Sneijder, both of whom have persistently dwelled on the ball for too long, or just gone for goal, when a simple square ball or cross to van Persie would have been the better option.

For me, it is clear that for all Robin's qualities, Holland cannot therefore get the best out of him, and ended up in him looking a mere shadow of his real self over in south Africa. It is also evident that he enjoys his football much more at Arsenal, feeding off the likes of Fàbregas, ironically enough.

Well, we haven't seen such a pleasing combination since November of last year, and the big question will now shift onto whether we will be lucky enough to see it again at the Grove?

On the face of it the answer is very much a yes, with Arsène Wenger and Arsenal's steadfast silence deafening. However, you cannot just keep those arrogant Catalans away all that easily, and amidst all the euphoria, one would expect that mobster Sandro Rossell will make another much-publicised attempt to land our man on the cheap.

As for Fàbregas himself, well the conspiracy theories will well and truly start, what with most predicting that Cesc's guest appearance exploits for his country will, whilst reinforcing his hunger and desire to do it for his Club, will have also shown him the way in terms of a probably much-anticipated bench career at Camp Nou, and so should put him off the thought of jumping ship altogether. Others, however, will point to the fact that his major successes have all come with his comrades from Barcelona, and so that might increase his etching for home.

Personally, I am sticking with the former view. Not because I want it to happen nor because I think Cesc is a man of honour and all that perpetually meaningless waffle in today's terms. But simply because of the Club's refusal to play ball thus far, let alone hardball, as well as the status that Fàbregas enjoys at Arsenal, a team whose play is built around him.

So there goes another World Cup. It has been quite an enjoyable ride, with African passion and flair (and those irksome vuvuzelas) at the heart of it all. We've had new champions, goals, drama, and the birth of new stars.

Now that it's all over and our man will be out celebrating becoming a world champion in his homeland in the coming days, perhaps we should now turn to the real Golden Ball star of the World Cup 2010 (sorry, Diego Forlan) to put us out of our misery with regards to Cesc Fàbregas' future.

I, for one, don't think anyone will argue with Paul the psychic octopus' hunch...