Source: Daily_Mail
Arsene Wenger tells Cesc Fabregas to forget Barcelona
Arsene Wenger last night insisted Cesc Fabregas will lead Arsenal's assault on the Barclays Premier League title, challenging him to add more silverware to his World Cup success.[LNB]Wenger promised fans Fabregas would not depart for Barcelona despite persistent rumblings from the Catalan capital about a possible transfer. [LNB] Wanted man: Fabregas has been chased by Barcelona all summer[LNB]Even as he spoke, comments leaked from Spain that the midfielder, who quit the Nou Camp for London at the age of 16, was negotiating a return.[LNB]'That's completely ridiculous,' fumed Wenger. 'We do not negotiate. If I want to buy your house and you don't want to sell, you don't negotiate with me, that's completely normal. I always said Cesc Fabregas will be our captain next year and that we want to keep him. [LNB]'Despite all the speculation last season and the whole of the summer, nothing has changed. He is now 23 years old and has just won the World Cup. I believe he will grow in authority and the biggest achievement for him now is to help us win the Championship.[LNB]Determined: Gunners manager Wenger[LNB]''Look at the length of his contract and he has five or six years to go.' [LNB]Arsenal have not been impressed by what they see as Barca's attempts to unsettle Fabregas. [LNB]'I believe Arsenal deserves respect,' said Wenger, although he says he was not worried when Spain's players forced Fabregas into a Barca shirt after the World Cup win. [LNB]'It's just part of celebrations,' he added.[LNB]Fabregas will report back to the Emirates on Thursday and will start his pre-season programme on August 9. He and Robin van Persie are not expected to play in the first game against Liverpool. [LNB]Wenger, though, fully expects his captain to knuckle down and get back to what he is paid for, regardless of what may be going on off the field. [LNB]'There are all kinds of situations, but I believe what happens after is that when a player stays it is about how much he focused on playing football,' said the Gunners boss. [LNB] 'It is always in the interests of the player to perform. [LNB] 'If he is a champion, he goes on the football and wants to be the best he can. All the rest is a poor excuse for a football player.' [LNB]Although Arsenal fans will not get to see the likes of Fabregas and van Persie this weekend, while Abou Diaby, Denilson, Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner - set to miss the start of the season - are also unavailable, Wenger believes the two games will give the rest of his squad a good workout. [LNB] 'You will see some young players, like [Emmanuel] Frimpong and [Jack] Wilshere, also the new players like [Marouane] Chamakh and [Laurent] Koscielny. It will be good to see them in a competitive environment,' said the Gunners boss, whose squad have just returned from a 10-day Austrian training camp. [LNB] 'I will also learn what condition we are in physically, because we have worked quite hard and with two weeks to go it is important that we can last in the games. [LNB] 'The third point is how ready our we with our team play? How sharp is our passing and our quick movement off the ball?' [LNB] Arsene Wenger hits out over the Premier League's 'disastrous' 25-man squad rule Sign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsYou'll pay for keeping Cesc! Arsenal boss Wenger warned by PuyolArsene Wenger claims Arsenal are looking at 'plenty of names' as he looks to add defensive cover Fabregas WILL sign for Barca! Xavi insists Arsenal only have ace 'on loanFabregas in turmoil! I'm a Barca fan AND a Gunner, says Arsenal skipperARSENAL FC
