Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas' Professionalism Stands Out In The Midst Of Torres' Saga

Arsenal managed to overcome a resilient Huddersfield side in the FA Cup to reach the next stages of the historic competition. The Gunners were the favourites in this encounter but they were put through a stern test by the Championship side who fought till the end. Arsene Wenger said it was that sort of a cup tie which provides intense excitement and demands the players to perform to the best of their abilities.

Arsene Wenger had to rotate his squad to keep them fit for this gruelling set of fixtures and the only real gamble he took was starting the in-form Samir Nasri ahead of the experienced Czech captain Tomas Rosicky. He opted to rest key players Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas for this encounter and yet managed to field quite a strong team.

It is quite unfortunate that Nasri was injured during the game due to a hamstring injury which puts him a doubt for the important Champions League game against FC Barcelona. Fabregas was brought on in the last few minutes of the match and salvaged the game in favour of the Gunners by inspiring his team when they looked unsettled.

The Spaniard has not been at his best for large parts of this season due to recurrence of his hamstring injuries but he does seem to be free from those troubles at present. He has been crucial in still keeping Arsenal in the FA cup with two late penalties against Leeds and Huddersfield respectively. Fabregas is not one to shirk responsibility and despite some criticism, he has been an able leader for the Gunners.

He was strongly linked with a move to Barcelona and according to many sources, he had informed Wenger that he intended to move to Spain. But Fabregas started the season in Arsenal colors and he has promised to stay at least till the end of the season. He has always declared that he does love Arsenal and has admitted that captaining this team means a lot to him.

Despite all the transfer speculation surrounding his future, he has not been distracted on the football field and continues to try his best regardless of what goes behind the scenes. Hs celebrations after that goal against Ipswich which confirmed Arsenal's berth in Wembley showed how much it meant for the young World Cup winner.

In this modern era of Football, there is a lot of emphasis on player power and most of the players can play their cards according to their wishes. Most people have criticised Fabregas for not speaking up about staying at the club but even if he did have a desire to join his boyhood club, Barcelona which is still unconfirmed, he has been very professional in handling the issue.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas are great friends and the Spaniard said that the first thing he did after winning the world cup was to talk to the Dutchman.He also dedicated his success in South Africa to Arsenal for helping him become one of the world's best attacking midfielders. These were comments he made when speculation was rife that he had played his last game for the Gunners.

He has always maintained that his future lies in the hands of Wenger, whom he considers as his second father. Also, he has never handed in a transfer request and it is clear that he has the desire to achieve success with the club which brings us to the situation of Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Torres has had to shoulder the burden of scoring goals almost single-handedly on a number of occasions and it is true that a lot of promises have not been kept but that has not been due to the new owners, John Henry and co. because they have run the club in a dignified manner since taking over the club. The Spanish striker declared that the Reds were the biggest club in England when he committed his future to the club in the summer.

However, it does seem like he has inserted a clause in his contract allowing him to leave in summer for a price of £50 million if the club cannot compete in the Champions League next year. Despite all his statements about the club, he has handed a transfer request and has made it clear he wants to move to Chelsea due to his ambitions of winning the title.

If Torres had moved on in the summer, it would still have caused Liverpool supporter a lot of despair but they would not be incensed by it. The timing of the transfer request has let the club down and hows disrespect towards the club and its supporters who have supported the striker ever since his move from Spain.

Liverpool are currently in good form and are the outside bets to qualify for the Champions League though it does look improbable at present. One of the main reasons why Liverpool have suffered is due to the exceptionally poor form of El Nino who has come to life on very few occasions most notably against Chelsea.

Also, he has enjoyed better form since the arrival of the King, Kenny Dalglish or so it  seemed. It has only been the opening of the transfer window which has injected some life into the striker to remind other clubs that he still remains one of the best strikers in the game.

The fact that Torres wants a move away from the club is easy to understand but his desire to move to Premier League rivals would itself not make it comfortable for the Liverpool faithful. The timing of the transfer request has shown a lot of disrespect towards the club who are essentially left with a lose-lose option.

Fabregas, on the other hand, has always maintained that he does not intend to disrespect the Arsenal supporters which is why he has preferred to deal his transfer speculations directly with Arsene Wenger. There is a good possibility that the Spaniard will leave the club next season but he has shown great respect for the club and Arsenal fans should support him if he still retains the respect and dignity when he departs the Emirates.

Arsenal's Man of Match vs. Chelsea: Captain Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal finally ended their dreadful run of results against Chelsea by thrashing the Blues by three goals to one in an enthralling contest. It was a game which they had to have a good result in order to move closer to Manchester United and also to erase their psychological barrier. Didier Drogba and Chelsea have tormented the Gunners in the recent past which has been one of the main reasons why they have not established themselves as serious title contenders in the past.

On Monday night though, it was to be the Gunners who showed the strength and determination to prove why they are serious challengers for the Premiership title. They showed the steel in midfield and were clinical in finishing. They had not scored a goal against Chelsea in their last three Premier League meetings but were able to penetrate the Chelsea defence three times by their superb play.

Prior to the game, Cesc Fabregas admitted that they were scared of losing in the big games which was one of the main reasons why they were not able to perform to their potential. It was certainly big words from the Captain and had the team failed, I am sure some fans would have said it was pessimistic from the Spaniard to say such things before the media.

But it was courageous from Fabregas to admit their mistakes in the past and it certainly had an effect on the team as they played fearlessly against the current Premier League title holders. The Spaniard has clearly not been at his best this season due to his hamstring injuries and he has looked short of match fitness on a number of occasions.

However, he was given the extra week to prepare for the Chelsea clash due to the postponement of the Stoke City game and he looked sharp from the outset of the game. He is not a vocal leader like many other captains but he certainly influences the team in a big way. He slotted into his usual attacking midfield role and dictated play in the midfield often allowing Jack Wilshere to move to a role in front of him.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas are certainly the two prominent leaders in this team and when they are both on the pitch, Arsenal seem to have a lot more confidence. Fabregas did misplace passes initially which was uncharacteristic of him but once he settled into the game, he was the one organising the midfield and setting the tempo of the play.

A lot of credit should be given to the defence, Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny in particular, for being able to make crucial interceptions and made it hard for Drogba and Chelsea to get into good positions. The team worked tirelessly to defend well and Martin Keown's support of the back four certainly was true as they looked solid when Arsenal as a team defended well.

Cesc Fabregas was immaculate in spotting his team mates in good positions and his vision, creativity and determination to succeed was one of the most important factors in deciding the match. In the Tottenham game, he looked like he as getting to his best but completely faded away in the second half. There were to be no such lapses this time as Fabregas kept working hard and he made life difficult for Chelsea.

In the lead-up to the first goal which involved Jack Wilshere and Alex Song mainly, Fabregas pulled away from Paulo Ferreira and drew a foul which should have been awarded a penalty but good refereeing from Mark Clattenberg as he allowed Alex Song to pounce on the loose ball to slot it past Petr Cech.

In the second half, Fabregas started just as influential as he was in the first and made some driving runs from midfield. Theo Walcott was through on goal and unselfishly squared it to the onrushing captain who passed the ball into an empty net to score for the first time since the game against Everton. The Spaniard returned the favour to Walcott in a space of two minutes as the duo commbined to set the Englishman through on goal. The England International has been in superb goalscoring form this season and did his chances no harm by taking his chance superbly.

Chelsea were able to claw one back but Cesc Fabregas managed to calm things down as the Gunners settled into the passing rhythm which seemed to have deserted them for a few minutes just after the goal.

The Captain had played his part to perfection, the only blemish being that he would miss the Wigan game due to suspension and was substituted to a standing ovation from the Emirates crowd. It would be a good game to miss considering that the Gunners have two tough games against Birmingham City and Manchester City coming up and Fabregas would have been adequately rested for the clashes.

Samir Nasri has been the player of the season for Arsenal and has been simply exceptional in many games. Even today when he did not have his best game, his movement and creativity caused a lot of trouble for the Blues and his sublime effort which forced Cech to make a superb save spoke volumes of his development this season. With the return to form of the leader Cesc Fabregas, it is time for the deadly duo to torment opposition defences.

Fabregas, Walcott, Song. Djourou and Koscielny all had a very good game tonight while the others had a pretty decent one. Everyone on the pitch looked committed and their display showed mental toughness and resilience. It would be extremely difficult to name one player as the Man of the Match.

But if one were to be named the Player of the Match, it would be Cesc Fabregas for his tenacious efforts, superb vision and creativity, sublime passing and most importantly, excellent leadership on the pitch.

Preview: Arsenal vs. Chelsea: Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Frank Lampard set to Start on Monday

Arsenal and Chelsea meet on Monday in an extremely important match in the context of their respective title challenges and both sides will look to earn the three points and stay close to leaders Manchester United. The Gunners were beaten by two goals to nil by the Blues at Stamford Bridge but a number of things have changed since then.

Chelsea have suffered a remarkable slump which has led to them squandering a healthy lead at the top of the table and are currently fourth in the table. They have suffered greatly due to the injuries to key players like John Terry and Frank Lampard and they have lost a lot of their confidence.

However, it has not been smooth sailing for the Gunners as well as they have been very inconsistent losing at home to Newcastle United and Tottenham since then. Arsenal have a poor record against Chelsea in the recent past and will look to set the record straight at the Emirates on Monday night.

With Manchester United playing on Sunday against Sunderland, the gap could be widened by the time their top two contenders for the Premiership meet. Arsenal and Chelsea will look to be at their best to earn a vital three points which could prove crucial in the context of the title race.

Key Player for Arsenal:

Samir Nasri has been the best player of the season for the Gunners and needs to step up in this crucial encounter. Despite the return to fitness of Cesc Fabregas, Nasri remains the key player for Arsenal and could be the one who could earn them a vital three points at the Emirates.

Key Player for Chelsea:

Didier Drogba has a great liking towards Arsenal and has an absolutely phenomenal record against the Gunners. He regained his scoring form by scoring against Tottenham and will look to improve his form by scoring against his favourite opponents.

Team News:

Arsenal:

Arsene Wenger said that Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Lukasz Fabianski were all likely to make the squad for Stoke City itself. An extra week to build fitness could be beneficial for these players and Wenger will look to his best players to deliver against a strong Chelsea team. Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner could make the squad after coming through full training.

Manuel Almunia is fit according to sources but might again be excluded to provide the reserve berth for Wojciech Szczesny. Thomas Vermaelen is believed to be still some way before he recovers and is scheduled for a return in January.

Probable Starting 11:

Lukasz Fabianski; Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Sebastien Squillaci, Gael Clichy; Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Robin van Persie; Samir Nasri, Marouane Chamakh, Andrei Arshavin

Substitutes:

Wojciech Szczesny, Johan Djouroru, Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby

Chelsea:

The Blues have lost some of their important players due to injuries and suspensions but Carlo Ancelotti will have a strong squad to choose from. It is unlikely that Chelsea will have Jose Bosingwa and Alex fit for the clash but apart from that, they have all the senior players in the squad. Lampard made an appearance at White Hart Lane and is in line for his first start after his injury against Arsenal. Though Nicolas Anelka has been in poor form, he is expected to start for the Blues alongside Didier Drogba.

John Terry admitted a lack of depth in the squad which is hurting them and it is because of their failure to replace experienced players like Michael Ballack, Deco, Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvalho. The substitutes bench consists of a number of young players and Ancelotti could strengthen his squad in January.

Probable Starting 11:

Petr Cech; Paulo Ferreira, Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Ashley Cole; Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, Frank Lampard; Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba

Substitutes:

Ross Turnbull, Jeffrey Bruma, Salomon Kalou, Patrick van Aanholt, Joshua McEachran, Ramires, Daniel Sturridge

Wishing you and your Family a Merry Christmas!

This article is also featured on The Invincible Gunners, a new blog started by me.

Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres linked with Barcelona; Where do their Futures lie?

Barcelona recently inked a shirt deal with the Qatar foundation, the world's most expensive shirt deal at present. This will provide the Spanish giants with more revenue and help them reduce their debts to a large extent.

Barcelona are arguably the favourites to lift the Champions League at Wembley after showing their prowess against Spanish rivals Real Madrid. They have a superb style of play which can be matched by no one in the world and have been extremely successful under Guardiola. It is hard to find a soft area in the current Barcelona team which is why it is a surprise that they are linked with moves to Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal and Fernando Torres of Liverpool.

The Spanish internationals were linked with the Catalan club in the last summer as well but both of them stayed at their respective clubs. As the January window approaches, it is hardly surprising that there are speculations concerning them. In this article, I will discuss the possibilities of the two Spaniards moving away from their respective clubs in the summer.

Cesc Fabregas

Barcelona tried to convince Fabregas of a move to his homeland but failed to make a substantial offer last season. The French tactician, who has played an integral part in the development of Cesc Fabregas, convinced the Spanish international to stay for the season.

Fabregas has a long term contract till 2015 and his potential is undeniable considering his rapid progress at Arsenal into a superb midfielder at the age of 23. It would take a massive bid of close to £50 million to entice Arsenal into considering the offer. The Gunners hold all the trump cards in the deal and will demand the price that they think is necessary to part ways with their captain.

Inter Milan have been linked with a big-money move in the past, but Fabregas has made it clear that if he does move from Arsenal, it will only be to Barcelona.

Fabregas has suffered numerous injuries in his career, but his recurring hamstring injury is a cause of concern because it could have long-term implications, not unlike the case of Michael Owen whose career was greatly affected by hamstring injuries. However, that is unlikely to put off Barcelona from launching a strong bid in the summer to bring back their former youth player, who remains special amongst the Barcelona crowd.

Arsenal's Point of View:

Arsenal and Wenger understand that it is inevitable that Fabregas will leave the club, but they will look to groom their replacement before he does join FC Barcelona. Aaron Ramsey is highly rated and if not for his double fracture, he would have got many chances this season and Wenger could have utilised him in the attacking midfield role when Fabregas is injured.

Samir Nasri can play in the role and has proved to be effective in the past. The versatility of some of the players at Arsenal might mean that Wenger does not sign a new playmaker to replace Fabregas. The Spanish International has been affected by injuries this season and it would have given Wenger some idea as to how they would cope without their inspirational talisman.

Even if Wenger feels he could let Fabregas move, Barcelona will have to come up with the right offer or they could expect to be snubbed by the Arsenal manager because they do believe that a price of around £50 million is justified for a player of Fabregas' class.

Barcelona's Point of View:

Barcelona have made it clear that they would be glad to sign Cesc Fabregas and with Xavi Hernandez not getting any younger, Cesc Fabregas could be groomed for the next two seasons to take up the mantle for the Blaugrana. They are a club which have paid big money in the past and with the new revenue from the shirt deal, Guardiola might spend the money to acquire the Arsenal captain.

However, signing the Arsenal captain would mean that the chances for Thiago Alacantara and Jonathan dos Santos, who are promising central midfielders, would disappear. Also, Ibrahim Afellay was signed recently by the Blaugrana and there could be some youngsters who could leave the club in search of more playing time.

Fernando Torres

The Spanish striker was clearly unhappy that his side could not compete in the Champions League this year and was linked with a number of clubs in the last summer. However the new manager Roy Hodgson convinced him to stay with the club. He was also influenced by the decision of Steven Gerrard and the signing of Joe Cole but it has not worked well for him this season.

He has looked off form for most of the season but turned in a brilliant performance against current champions Chelsea to defeat them by two goals to nil. His talent is undeniable and he has proven that he is a world class striker. However he has been a pale shadow of himself due to his lean patch which extends to the World Cup in June.

Torres is an ambitious striker and believes he should be playing in the Champions League and that could be a reason he could force a move from the club in January or in the summer. Manchester City were heavily linked with him in the summer and could test his resolve again.

Liverpool's Point of View:

It will be very difficult to convince Torres to stay with the club after a very disappointing start to the season and though he has not been in form, the supply to him in general has been quite poor and he has also suffered because of it. Ideally, Liverpool would like to hold on to their striker but if the striker decides to move on, there is not much that the club can do but to negotiate smartly in order to gain the best deal.

Liverpool's new owners might hold the key to whether or not he will stay at the club. Roy Hodgson's time with Liverpool is numbered if he does not start producing the results and if things do not go his way, the new manager and the owners' willingness to spend the money to acquire new players could also determine whether Torres will stay at the club or not.

The Clubs that could Sign Fernando Torres

Manchester City are one of the strong contenders to land the Spanish striker considering they need a prolific established striker if their former captain Carlos Tevez does force a move out of the club. They have the financial clout to meet Liverpool's asking price but the question is whether Torres will move to a club where a player's future is not always certain (read Roque Santa Cruz, Adebayor et al). Also, Torres named Liverpool as the biggest club in England and moving to City will not impress the Liverpool supporters.

Chelsea were believed to have made a bid in the summer for Torres and after seeing the striker's prowess against them, they might want to add the prolific striker to their roster. Also, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are both on the wrong side of 30 and the London based club might let Anelka leave if they can sign Torres.

Real Madrid are interested to sign a striker in January or in the summer and do have the finances to sign the Spanish International but there is a very good possibility that Torres might not want to play for the Los Blancos considering he played for Atletico Madrid in his early years and the club remains close to him.

Barcelona were also one of the clubs linked with the star striker and it was reported that Sandro Rosell was keen on bringing the Spanish International to the Camp Nou. Torres is not averse to a move there and the Blaugrana are capable of paying what it takes to land Torres. David Villa and Fernando Torres share an excellent relationship and that could also be a factor. The only thing which Barcelona have to consider is whether Torres is needed at the club and that his signing will hinder Bojan Krkic from having regular opportunities. For Torres, he needs to playing regularly and should he be assured by Guardiola of a chance to prove his calibre, there is a good chance he would be interested.