Cesc Fabregas Stays At Arsenal

I said only a few days ago that I was going to avoid discussion of Cesc Fabregas and the tedious saga of his proposed transfer to Barcelona for as long as nothing substantial happened.

Yesterday, that substantial happening came to pass, as Fabregas announced his intention to stay with Arsenal for the forthcoming season.

In a comprehensive statement, he addressed several of the questions that fans wanted to pose to him over the last couple of months, and did so honestly and without any Adebayor-esque attempts to insult people's intelligence.

The full statement from Fabregas, in case you haven't already read it on one of the many outlets reporting it, reads as follows:

"Firstly I would like to apologise to all the Arsenal fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known what I was going to do until this moment.

"I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me. This was the club where I learnt my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing. There are not many players in this world who would not want to play for Barcelona.

"I have had many conversations with Arsène Wenger both in person and over the phone over the last few months and although the content of those conversations will remain private, the conclusion is that Barcelona have had two formal offers rejected by Arsenal.

"I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal's prerogative not to sell me.

"I owe a lot to the Club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal. 

"I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended I will be 100 percent focused on playing for Arsenal.

"I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about.

"I am looking forward to the start of the season and putting this speculation behind me."

As I said, an honest statement. It won't please everyone, but what does? I'm sure there are some who will harp on about wanting to see Fabregas sold or stripped of the captaincy as a result of this summer's shenanigans, but I think either would be a ridiculous move.

Despite how much hassle Fabregas' desire to go home has caused this summer, I don't feel he's done too much wrong. He hasn't been dishonest, he hasn't been disrespectful, and he hasn't thrown his toys out of the pram like a spoilt child.

Not every, or even many, professional footballers would have bothered with the apology that Fabregas gave.

It was a classy thing to do and a nice gesture to the fans who have had to endure a summer of another club trying every trick in the book to bully their club into selling their best player.

I would also point out to the fans who say "get shot of him," that Barcelona's agenda from the word go has been to get Fabregas for as low a price as possible. Part of that strategy was to try and damage the relationship between the player, the club, and it's fans.

By embracing attitudes like that, Arsenal fans play straight into Barcelona's hands, and in some ways, do the Catalan club's dirty work for them.

Fabregas acknowledged Arsenal's contribution to his career, and acknowledged that Arsenal have the final say over any transfer deal involving him.

And most importantly, he has promised to give his all for Arsenal in the coming season.

There's no reason to doubt his word, and so I think as tedious and drawn out as this saga has been, we can move on from it to the important business of the season ahead.

As a final word on the matter, I'd like to say hats off to Arsenal. I think the club has handled the whole matter brilliantly, stood firm in the face of attempts to bully, and been resolute.

They've refused to be drawn into a slandering match, even where they might have been justified in doing so, and showed their class throughout.

Arsene Wenger said Fabregas' decision was a "huge lift" for the club, and spoke about the importance of standing firm in such matters:

"It is important for football that players do not move away, That nobody can just come in and say 'we want him and you go'. So it is important that the policy we entered into a few years ago is productive. And I believe for the whole football world that it is massively important that Arsenal is successful and that there is not only one way have success in football - to just put a huge amount of money in."

Quite right too, I think the boss is completely right to give himself and the club a pat on the back.

Arsene Wenger has done himself and the club proud by sticking to his principles on this one, and since his stubbornness is something that is swiftly criticised when it causes Arsenal problems, it should be praised now when it has resulted in the team keeping its best player.

Ivan Gazidis and the other guys behind the scenes deserve a lot of credit as well for quietly, but nevertheless strongly, defending the club's corner.

There has been a perception of Arsenal in the last few years that they let their best players go too easily. This summer has gone some way to counter that argument. Well done, Arsenal.

There are one or two bits of other news as well this morning. Robin Van Persie's return to the club has gone almost unnoticed in the wake of the hype surrounding Fabregas.

Nevertheless, Van Persie has had plenty to say about how much he loves the club and its way of doing business, which makes for very pleasant reading. He also speaks about liberating the number 10 shirt from the sulky grasp of William Gallas, and says that it is a striker's shirt.

He's quite right, of course, but I can't help but feel that he might have intended that comment as a little swipe at Gallas. I don't really have a problem now that Gallas has left, and I'm sure he'll find time to have something unpleasant and sulky to say about Arsenal in the future.

There is the small matter of our final preseason friendly against Legia Warsaw today. I won't be able to watch the game, as I'm off for a beer or ten this afternoon/evening, but I'll be downloading some highlights to peruse hungover at some point tomorrow.

Arsene Wenger says the line-up for today's game should not be taken as a sign of our line-up against Liverpool for the first game of the season next weekend (next weekend!), but nevertheless, it will be a good chance to have a final look at some of our players' progress before the big kickoff.

Arsene Wenger has said the goalkeeping spot is still up for grabs, though he says nothing about any possibility of a new signing in that area, which isn't a good sign.

He also mentions that Fabianski still has a chance to earn the starting berth, which makes me feel a little faint. Apparently, one of the goalkeepers will be going on loan. I'd bet on Szczesny. 

I noticed actually that Sunderland are really desperate to loan a goalie whilst Craig Gordon is still injured, as they only have the one keeper on their books at the moment besides Gordon.

I realise he wouldn't be guaranteed to start, but I couldn't help but think it would be a very good learning experience for young Szczesny.

If the club are looking to loan out a keeper, then the situation at Sunderland can't be invisible to them. It's a good chance to get one of the younger goalkeepers some top level experience.

Finally for today, it appears Jay Simpson is on his way out of the club after offers were accepted for him from some Championship clubs. I think it's fair to say that the move has looked inevitable for a little while now. Good luck to him, wherever he ends up.

Anyway, that's a long one for this time of morning! Tomorrow's blog will probably appear at a weird and wonderful hour as I have to make my way back from Liverpool. Take it easy until then, and enjoy the game later.