After some of Cesc's comments in Barcelona, the press got enough fodder for gossip, which they coupled with their notoriously poor reasoning abilities to conclude that Cesc is on his way out. What was it that Fabregas said, which prompted headlines such as "Cesc ready to join Barcelona"? Here's what he said -
"If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona. I am 23 years old and I have a long career in front of me. I've never hidden the fact that playing for Barcelona is a dream that I would like to fulfill.
You see your team-mates succeeding here [in Barcelona] and it is exciting because you have worked alongside them for so long. I think I would like to go to Barcelona, whether or not they want me is another thing. I don't know when it will happen. I am happy at Arsenal and I am not in a rush to leave. Before I leave for the World Cup I want my future sorted out because it benefits nobody if I go into the tournament with something else on my mind."
A bit more perspective here. As with all other quotes, these quotes came after Cesc was prompted by journalists. So he never said "If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona" on his own volition. He was asked whether Barcelona will be the team he plays for if he ever left Arsenal, to which he replied "Yes, definitely".
Anyway, the reason for discussing Cesc's desire to stay at Arsenal is that this time, unlike in the previous years, I am skeptical about to whether he will stay. Although I have pointed out that the press, as usual, has twisted some statements from Fabregas to create an impression that a transfer is imminent, I am less confident of him staying this year than I was last year. I fear the worst. The italicized text above are the reasons I believe he will stay, and the underlined portion is what makes me uncomfortable.
He clearly says that if ever he leaves Arsenal, he will only go to Barcelona. That shows he loves the club, and that the affection he has matters more to him than trophies. He is saying clearly that he will only leave from one club he loves to another one he loves. It also shows that his chances of leaving, in case Barcelona do not chase him, are remote. He will not leave for any other club in the world.
That said, Barcelona seem interested, and Cesc has said he wants to sort out his future before the World Cup. He is contracted at Arsenal till 2014, so why would he want to "sort out" his future now? It shows that there is some uncertainty there. And that is what worries me.
It worries me because this transfer will be a massive setback for everything that the current Arsenal stands for. It will be a transfer that inflicts a killer blow on Arsene Wenger's vision for the club.
The vision is of a young, intelligently assembled group of youngsters growing together, maturing together to form a great institution of total football. The vision is admirable, but it rests on one fundamental necessity - that a player, when developed and ready to lead the team to the next level, is kept at the club to achieve what he has been trained for. Once that requirement is taken care of, it is only a matter of time before the model yields results for a club as good at developing players as Arsenal are. However, if this crucial condition is not met, the model fails. 'Fails' is not to say that the club does not achieve good results, but it is to say that the ultimate goal of creating that dream team is not achieved.
The previous transfers of the likes of Thierry Henry and Vieira were difficult to accept, but Cesc's transfer, if it goes through, will be infinitely more grievous for the club. Wenger will find another gem, and Arsenal will be competitive again, but the transfer will be a big blow to everything that Arsenal and Wenger have stood for in the last 5 years. It will be a defeat of a brave ideology. Arsenal may not be the same again. They will have to change their philosophy. It will be a win for the likes of Mourinho, who recently said - "Arsenal won it in an incredible way and after that they thought they could win in a different way. They cannot win it in a different way. Either they go back to where they were or they don’t do it."
I hope Cesc stays back and proves Arsenal can do it in a different way. Just one more season, Cesc, and you'll want to stay back. Just one more season...
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Hi Tanmay,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. Sumit tuned me on to this one.
I will be very surprised if Cesc leaves this season... I'm sure Wenger and Gazidis are doing their best to keep him at the club... especially if you were to believe the incentives that were given to him recently (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1268876/Cesc-Fabregas-secret-deal-Arsenal-paid-captain-3m-stave-Barcelona-interest.html)
I also think that Wenger continuing beyond the end of next season will have a major impact on Cesc's decision.
Now since this is election year at Barcelona, there will be a lot of speculation in the news as you rightly point out and Cesc will be used as a political ploy, no doubt, to gain more votes (much like Beckham was used when Laporta won). Also, Cesc would do well to look at another ex-Arsenal man lamenting about the lack of opportunities at Barcelona in Hleb, who is going to be back warming the bench next season.
For our sake, I hope Cesc stays on and Wenger decides to continue till at least the time he can finish his project.
Tushar.
Cesc Fabulous Fabregas, thats what we call him and rightly so. He has been the spine of this Arsenal team. We clearly saw demolition of Arsenal in the last few PL games without Cesc Fabregas. Nasri can intermittently step in the shoes of Fabregas but clearly he cannot replace Fabregas. That aside, if at all Fab leaves I think it would be biggest blow Arsenal would suffer, but this time Arsene Wenger should not allow him to leave, he can do that by not persuading him to stay but by brining in players who can fill the key missing areas in this Arsenal team. What could be the prime reason Fabregas wants to join his beloved club, Its we not winning here. Had Arsenal won one silverware in the last 5 years, I am sure Fab would not have been contemplating about leaving Arsenal. Everyone likes to be winner, Henry left he wanted hands on CL trophy, he clearly did not see that happening with young, talented Arsenal kids.Fab wants to win too. What more would Fab ask for as a captain, "to hold the Silverware" that would be any captains dream.We might get 40M by selling Fab, but no player would be able to fill in the void Fabregas would leave. I cant think of any name that could replace Fabregas in Arsenal playing style of Football. Its up-to you Mr. Wenger how you stop Fabregas from leaving, According to me the only way is to buy 2-3 key players in needed position and show Fabregas that we are here for winning and you are the captain of this Arsenal side.If this season you still are adamant of trusting players like Fabianski to prove their talent, I am sorry, then Fabregas should leave.
ReplyDeleteMy take- Cesc as I have already mentioned is your best player and if he is fit, one of the best midfielders - intelligent, agile, tactical - in EPL or probably in Europe (they need to prove this on the bigger stage)
ReplyDeleteI see Cesc leaving this summer. It will be a mighty blow to Arsenal, having the same or a larger impact as to ManU when CR left us.
Time will tell if the Arsenal squad can cope up without him.
He is surely the backbone of the team. He will rise to the occasion in the FIFA WC. Arsene will bleed when he leaves. And so will Arsenal - the club.
But no one is indispensable. Rooney proved it in ManU last year, so will someone else in Arsenal next year (if he leaves). But it will be a BIG void. BIG is the word.
Mihir
@ Tushar, I hope what you say turns out to be true, but day by day it looks more likely that he will go. Its unfortunate for all of us, because as Arsenal fans, each one of us was a part of Wenger's vision.
ReplyDelete@Sumit, again, I hope Wenger can persuade Fabregas to stay, but he seems to have made up his mind. A few months back, I would have said Ramsey is close to filling Fabregas' hole in the sporting aspect, but it will take time for Arsenal to get over the emotional blow.
@ Mihir - You are right, Fabregas is one of the best midfielders in Europe. But the blow to Arsenal is likely to be bigger than that suffered by ManUtd. Fergie had assembled quite a few other 'ready' players through their financial might. Arsenal have fewer such players to soften the blow. Also, Fabregas being our captain and talisman, the emotional blow is huge. But you are right. No player is bigger than the club, and he will be adequately replaced sooner or later. I wish Ramsey hadn't had that injury. Had he not got that ghastly injury, Wenger, as usual, had a replacement ready.