Cesc Fabregas Stings Arsenal by Claiming the Gunners Are Not Contenders

It seems as if Arsenal fans cannot be allowed to get over the pain of the Cesc Fabregas saga, and the loss of a club legend. 

In addition to Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu's insulting admission that his club had effectively stolen Fabregas from the Gunners, considering the eventual price they paid, the player himself has now admitted the reason he decided to leave London at all.

Trophies.

Speaking to Sport magazine, Fabregas said:

"

I want to be in a club that is able to win the big titles year after year and I don’t see that kind of future for Arsenal. I still have many feelings for Arsenal but I fear that they won’t be able to push the other big clubs in England away.

"

Indeed, many supporters had suspected this, but to hear it actually said is merely twisting the knife and bringing back those awful feelings generated after the Spaniard first left. He continued:

"

If you look at the team this season I can’t see them finishing in front of teams like Manchester United or City. Or Chelsea. There’s just too big a difference between the squads.

I respect that Arsenal doesn’t have the same financial opportunities as the others but it was part of my decision to leave that I find it hard to see Arsenal winning Premier League or Champions League in a near future.

"

Ironically, even though we know Fabregas loves Arsene Wenger like a father and credits him for much of his success, he is in fact strongly criticizing him here.

Arsenal's failure to win the Premier League, or indeed threaten to do so, rests squarely on the shoulders of the manager. It was his lack of ambition and stubborn refusal to inject the squad with the skill that new signings could provide was a major factor in Fabregas's departure.

Ultimately, it is difficult to fault the player for leaving.

On one hand there is Arsenal, a stagnating club that seemingly diminishes in stature every season. On the other is Barcelona, a squad packed with Cesc's friends and who are winning every trophy there is to win.

Fabregas also left the door open for a possible return, but by the time Barcelona decides to sell him—if they ever do—he will surely be past his best. He has already been earmarked as the replacement for the aging Xavi.

Nevertheless, one cannot help but feel a sort of loss as one considers the heights that the Gunners could have reached under an ambitious transfer policy and one of the best midfielders on the planet.

Wenger has, it is true, greatly strengthened his side recently, though the manner in which he did so perhaps indicated a bit of mismanagement.

Nevertheless, if this quintet of players had been bought when we had the money and Fabregas, the phrase "trophy drought" may never have entered the vocabulary of the Arsenal faithful.

Hopefully, the next time Arsene Wenger needs to purchase players, he will not have to be forced to do so by the loss of perhaps his greatest talent ever.

Otherwise, this drought will continue for a long while yet.

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