Source: Team_Talk
Groves: Ambition driving Fab to Barca
Former Arsenal winger Perry Groves believes the club's failure to win a trophy in the last five years has persuaded Cesc Fabregas to leave.[LNB] The Spain international has emerged as Barcelona's next major transfer target after the 23-year-old said he would welcome a move back to the club he left for the Gunners seven years ago.[LNB]Groves is convinced a lack of silverware at the Emirates Stadium - the last trophy they won was the FA Cup in 2005 - has played a major factor in Fabregas' decision.[LNB]"I don't think it is a real surprise as it seemed if Arsenal didn't win anything this year he would probably want to leave," Groves said.[LNB]"He is coming to the peak of his career, he is very influential in European football, but he has not won anything for five years.[LNB]"With Cesc it is not about being greedy or money but ambition. It is all about trophies.[LNB]"He can see Arsenal are a fair way from Manchester United and Chelsea and Arsene Wenger needs to sign about four players in the summer.[LNB]"Barcelona are winning trophies and Cesc wants to fill his trophy cabinet.[LNB]"I don't think he would have looked at Barcelona if Arsenal were winning trophies."[LNB]Groves also thinks Fabregas may consider playing in Spain is better for his long-term future.[LNB]Compatriot and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has already stated, after three seasons in the Premier League, that English football may have contributed to his injury problems.[LNB]"It is a little less physical in La Liga than the Premier League and Cesc has seen horrific injuries to Eduardo and Aaron Ramsey in recent seasons," added Groves.[LNB]"Barcelona and Real Madrid finished 25-plus points ahead of the other sides and they will get easy games against teams in the middle of the table - you don't get that in the Premier League."[LNB]Fabregas has a contract with Arsenal until 2014 so, technically, manager Wenger could refuse to countenance a move.[LNB]Wenger is already planning moves to bolster his squad, with the confirmation of Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh's free transfer from Bordeaux set to be confirmed shortly.[LNB]Winger Alexander Hleb left Arsenal for Barcelona two years ago, and the Belarus player has been reportedly offered as a potential makeweight in any Fabregas deal, with Yaya Toure and Zlatan Ibrahimovic other possible options.[LNB]Groves, a cult figure among Arsenal fans, admits chances of keeping prize asset Fabregas are remote.[LNB]"I think Arsene has probably said to Cesc to give them one more season - like Sir Alex Ferguson did with Cristiano Ronaldo," said Groves, speaking at the launch of Football Replay - an initiative to get more men aged over 35 involved in five-a-side football.[LNB]"Unfortunately for Cesc it is more of a calling. Barcelona is the only team he would leave Arsenal for.[LNB]"If Arsenal want to play hard-ball they could do what Martin O'Neill did with Gareth Barry at Aston Villa (when Liverpool first expressed their interest), saying he has a long contract.[LNB]"Martin O'Neill knew Barry would still give 100% and would not be disruptive around the dressing room and I think Cesc would be the same.[LNB]"But no-one is bigger than the club and Arsenal have let a lot of good players go in the last three or four years."[LNB]Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright takes a similar view to Groves, telling talkSPORT: "You cannot keep players of the calibre of Cesc Fabregas when he's got so much to do.[LNB]"He is looking at Barcelona winning stuff, at them with Lionel Messi, the best player in the world in the team.[LNB]"It's not about money. It's about the fact that he wants to get to a level where he can compete and win the greatest honours in the game.[LNB]"That's why I was so disappointed when Thierry Henry went to Barcelona and he won it [the Champions League] because it seems like you have to leave Arsenal to get to the next level and that is why we have gone backwards.[LNB]"For some reason we cannot attract the great players, that are going to keep people like Cesc Fabregas there, to Arsenal anymore - how can you blame him for wanting to go?"
