Gunner
12-25-2007, 12:41 PM
Cesc Fabregas admits he is 'not surprised' by Arsenal's title charge after revealing the players have grown in stature since the departure of Thierry Henry.
http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2007/SPORT/football/09/19/player.fabregas/art.fabregas.jpg
The sale of Henry to Barcelona in the summer prompted suggestions that the Gunners would struggle to mount a Premier League challenge without their former captain.
But Arsenal have lost just once in the league and hold a one-point advantage over reigning champions Manchester United.
The form of Fabregas has been key to the team's bid for domestic honours and the Spaniard was confident Arsene Wenger's young side could cope without Henry.
Patient
"It is my fifth season and a lot of the players have been playing together for a long time now, so I'm not surprised at all," Fabregas told Sky Sports News.
"I know what we are capable of. It's just something that we had to be a bit patient."
Expanding on Henry's exit, Fabregas said: "I would say maybe now I have more responsibility than before.
"When you look at Arsenal two years ago, one year ago, you could see just Thierry Henry. When you think about Arsenal you think about Thierry Henry.
"It was a bit like the other players didn't exist. I think when he left it was an opportunity for everybody to show we are here, we are a team and a great club.
"Even if Thierry Henry, who is the best player in the world, is leaving us, we can still achieve something."
Platini comparison
The former Barcelona youngster has been compared to French legend Michel Platini by Wenger, but Fabregas wants to be a player in his own style.
He continued: "I must say he was a great player and I watched a few tapes. Of course, when a person like Arsene Wenger says this kind of thing about you it is great.
"I feel I want to be my own player and I want to be Cesc Fabregas, and I try to play the way I am."
In my opinions, Cesc is the best young midfielder in the world. For someone so young to take the role at the heart of the midfield and pass the ball around and pick out through balls and hes shooting acuracy is phenomenal. I think were looking at the future of the spanish nt centre mid.
Your thoughts?
http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2007/SPORT/football/09/19/player.fabregas/art.fabregas.jpg
The sale of Henry to Barcelona in the summer prompted suggestions that the Gunners would struggle to mount a Premier League challenge without their former captain.
But Arsenal have lost just once in the league and hold a one-point advantage over reigning champions Manchester United.
The form of Fabregas has been key to the team's bid for domestic honours and the Spaniard was confident Arsene Wenger's young side could cope without Henry.
Patient
"It is my fifth season and a lot of the players have been playing together for a long time now, so I'm not surprised at all," Fabregas told Sky Sports News.
"I know what we are capable of. It's just something that we had to be a bit patient."
Expanding on Henry's exit, Fabregas said: "I would say maybe now I have more responsibility than before.
"When you look at Arsenal two years ago, one year ago, you could see just Thierry Henry. When you think about Arsenal you think about Thierry Henry.
"It was a bit like the other players didn't exist. I think when he left it was an opportunity for everybody to show we are here, we are a team and a great club.
"Even if Thierry Henry, who is the best player in the world, is leaving us, we can still achieve something."
Platini comparison
The former Barcelona youngster has been compared to French legend Michel Platini by Wenger, but Fabregas wants to be a player in his own style.
He continued: "I must say he was a great player and I watched a few tapes. Of course, when a person like Arsene Wenger says this kind of thing about you it is great.
"I feel I want to be my own player and I want to be Cesc Fabregas, and I try to play the way I am."
In my opinions, Cesc is the best young midfielder in the world. For someone so young to take the role at the heart of the midfield and pass the ball around and pick out through balls and hes shooting acuracy is phenomenal. I think were looking at the future of the spanish nt centre mid.
Your thoughts?