Fabregas and Wenger: Dire Straits is still a name of an English rock group
Cesc Fabregas’s media grabbing statement about leaving for Barcelona is proof for The Sun that Arsenal is a sinking ship.
The Sun omits out this very important part:
” I don’t know when this will happen though. I’m very happy at Arsenal. I’m in no hurry to leave the club.”
You see without these words, this actually is a non story. The Sun knows this but that is why when we rank journalistic probity, a Murdoch rag usually sinks to the bottom. But it makes for good copy.
Here is The Sun:
“If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona.
“I would like to go, whether they want me or not is another matter.
“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 fulfil.”
Say what you will. Fabregas scored a penalty on a broken leg against Barca. He tore that ball out of the net to celebrate drawing level. He wasn’t Adebayor looking over his shoulder. He was captain Arsenal. In him beat an Arsenal heart.
“I have a long career in front of me”
When the time comes he may leave. There is Xavi and Iniesta in front of him at Barca for now. Biding his time makes sense. Plus, who is to say that these words do not have an implicit purpose: to put Wenger under pressure to make some quality signings this summer.
The Sun’s conjecture that Wenger too will leave putting Arsenal in dire straits. A lack of transfer funds is a major factor usually when managers leave of their own accord. Wenger is the exception. He is in the forefront of Arsenal’s debt reduction by making bargain basement deals and capitalizing on their resale value. Wenger’s reaction following Arsenal’s disastrous end of season run reveal that there will be no volte-face from that philosophy. They show a manager very much invested in the club’s future.