Arsenal captain odds-on to go this summer
Manchester City's victory at Bolton rendered the result of the London derby between Fulham and Arsenal as something of an irrelevance and instead ensured that the main talking point was injured captain Cesc Fabregas' decision to snub the game for a trip back home to Catalonia.
The Spanish midfielder opted to watch Sebastian Vettel win another Grand Prix rather than see his team-mates continue their disappointing conclusion to the campaign with a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage in a move that has inevitably sparked more speculation that he will be leaving this summer.
The 24-year-old was eager to join Barcelona last year but Arsene Wenger rejected their advances and asked his skipper to honour his contract, believing him to be vital to the Gunners' chances of landing their first trophy since 2005, however another silverware-free season has transpired.
Despite rumours that the Champions League finalists won't be spending big over the coming months and the January signing of Ibrahim Afellay supposedly being as an alternative, Betfair punters remain convinced that Fabregas will get his dream switch back to the club he left in 2003.
Odds of [1.41] are offered on the World Cup winner departing the Emirates before the close of the transfer window, whereas he is [3.3] to spend a ninth season in north London.
Most supporters appear resigned to his exit and will arguably be more concerned with an exodus given claims that Samir Nasri and Denilson could also be looking for a transfer.
It has been suggested that Scott Parker, who is considered almost certain to quit West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League, could fill one of the voids, yet he isn't the major addition required to rebuild confidence among fans after a dismal few weeks.
Should Arsenal let Fabregas go? Who should replace him? Tell us below...
Published: 23 May 2011
Fwu (May 23, 2011 11:52 AM) said:
If reports are true and Fabregas will go for 50 - 58mil, then Wenger should use the money to get both Benzema and Hazard.
If players valuation are to be believed, Benzema will cost 25mil while Hazard is in the range of 22 - 25 mil which is just what the fee from Fabregas is enough for!
Fabregas has been great, but surely getting 2 players of this calibre for him is good business!
Wenger can then focus on selling clowns like Denilson, Bendtner, Almunia, Squillaci and fringe players like Rosicky and the cash he gets from these players + his transfer kitty can then be used to bring in players to strengthen the positions that we need strengthening (CB, DM).
With Alvarez potentially coming in on free transfer, Wenger should try to also get perhaps Gameiro or Gervinho to bring in even more options for the team. I would also like to see a better RB and LB to challenge Sagna and Clichy as Eboue and Gibbs imo are both poor backups.
DNV (May 23, 2011 12:01 PM) said:
YES! Let Fabregas go, he has had a poor season and we could easily get £32m plus Bojan for him!! Then get Nasri to sign a contract (play him through the middle) and sign Eden Hazard on the left! Oh and sort the defence out.....Sakho, Cahill, Vertonghen
suleiman Malilo (May 23, 2011 12:14 PM) said:
Fabrigas should go because his body is in arsennal but his soul is outside
moyeen (May 23, 2011 12:26 PM) said:
if fab goes our chances to win the league goes with him.without cesc i dont see our team going anyhere,because they wont replace him.he will say we have enough quality.no throphy only profit thatr is arsenal.
Anonymous (May 23, 2011 12:41 PM) said:
fabregas,nasri could stay but benthner can go.arsenal should go and get osaze from wesbrom and Bent
Kingsley (May 23, 2011 12:50 PM) said:
Let Fabregas go! And wenger should b replaced.
49Unbeaten (May 23, 2011 1:04 PM) said:
If he wants to go then let him. It'd be worse for us to keep him if his heart isn't in it. Give us Affellay, Bojan and £26 mil' in return for our captain and i'll be happy.....
head (May 23, 2011 1:31 PM) said:
some captain. give the armband to someone who deserves it.
I say make Robin van Persie club captain and Thomas Vermaelen team captain.
Anonymous (May 23, 2011 1:45 PM) said:
I'm fed up of hearing "his heart is elsewhere", that's not why he should go, a player should do his best for the club he's at regardless. The reason he should go is because whilst a great player he is a poor captain (and generally whiny) and could gain us some good dosh to spend where it is actually needed. I'd prefer to see a ramsey/wilshere partnership develop than Fabregas be relied on.
Anslem Musa (May 23, 2011 1:49 PM) said:
if fabregas wants to go please let him go.he has done his best. The club is only intrested in making profit not winning tropies so any player that wants to leave should not be blamed.Both Arsenal fc and its management are selfish to their players and fans
flenjo (May 23, 2011 2:29 PM) said:
@ musa i support your comment, fabregas has done his best for arsenal but AW and board are interested in making money not trophy and a superstar like cesc need a trophy to show at the end of his carrier. If AW wil change to buy us quality player cesc can stay but otherwise he should leave for a better team like barca
satisfiedgooner (May 23, 2011 4:25 PM) said:
you f****** armchair fans dont get it, do you?
Go ask the tiny totts what its like to have a 30k seater stadium that they cant even think of expanding. Not like them mancs who inherited theirs, we had to pay every penny from our own pockets.
(extract removed due to excessive swearing)
Arsenal4Life (May 23, 2011 6:12 PM) said:
Let Fabregas leave for 50 million or 35 + Bojan + Afellay!
Totti (May 24, 2011 8:10 AM) said:
I lyk fab bt i tnk he s nt commitd 2 d team again. Sel hm n rplace hm wt a beta player dt s nt frm france
Alan Maile (May 24, 2011 8:57 AM) said:
Well satisfiedgooner, bet you are not so satisfied now after gaining one paltry point from TINY TOTTS even though they gave you a 2 goal start in both league games. The other Arsenal views on Fabregas that did not get bitter and twisted were very interesting, yours was puerile.
B.A (May 24, 2011 10:25 AM) said:
I don't accept all things about cesc.He must be play for arsenal for last one year.it's hies duty.
dapo... (May 24, 2011 2:48 PM) said:
why critisize da young man.. dis is a player dat when he is not on the pitch arsenal is s***!!....who else has his type of instints in dat team. its only fab can locate a striker from da center of da field