Source: Team_Talk
Djourou: Fabregas vital to Gunners
Johan Djourou says Arsenal's chances of lifting the Premier League this term trophy will take a huge blow if Cesc Fabregas decides to leave.[LNB] Fabregas has been at the centre of a summer-long tug-of-war between Arsenal and the Catalan giants, with whom the Spaniard began his career as a youngster.[LNB]Barca's £30million move for the Gunners midfielder was quickly rebuffed earlier this summer and manager Arsene Wenger is confident that his skipper will remain with the club this season.[LNB]Djourou says that Fabregas is a "vital" member of the team and must remain if they are to win their first Premier League trophy since 2004.[LNB]"We all know that Fabregas is an important player for us. He is a great player," said the defender.[LNB]"It is vital that he stays with us so we can keep the team together because that's the most important thing - that we keep all the players.[LNB]"We need him. It's his decision and we can't do anything about it but I hope he stays."[LNB]Djourou reckons that the team are ready to end six trophy-less years by bringing the Premier League title to the Emirates.[LNB]"We can't wait to get the season started," said Djourou.[LNB]"Now we are ready to deliver. We have been saying this for years but we have been missing that little bit.[LNB]"Now I believe we are ready to push for first place. We want to be up there. We now have the quality to do it."[LNB]Arsenal's defensive weaknesses were exposed today when Pato scored for AC Milan with a free header inside the box to ensure that the Gunners' first game of the pre-season Emirates Cup tournament ended in a 1-1 draw.[LNB]Wenger is keen to add a defender to his squad after the departures of the experienced trio of William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre and Sol Campbell this summer.[LNB]Djourou, who missed all but one of Arsenal's games last season due to a knee injury, is now ready to stake his claim for a place at the heart of Arsenal's defence alongside either Thomas Vermaelen or new signing Laurent Koscielny.[LNB]The Swiss international said: "It was frustrating last season because I was hoping for a great season and I ended up just watching the guys play from the sidelines.[LNB]"Now I'm really up for it and ready for the season.[LNB]"It is a very good chance for me to break into the team with all the players that have left.[LNB]"I feel a lot better and stronger now I'm back from injury. Now it's up to me to prove that I'm still good enough to play in week in, week out."
