For those of you that were there when we thumped Everton 7-0 on a Wednesday night at Highbury in May 2005, you might recall singing ‘one more year’ to the tune of ‘here we go’ over and over again for the last 20 minutes.
It was our last home game of the season, with a cup final to look forward to, so why were all our voices in accord that evening? The whole of Highbury were saluting the genius of one man, who if I recall correctly, came on as second-half substitute and we were imploring him to sign a one-year extension to his current deal at the club – this man of course was none other than Dennis Bergkamp, and he did indeed sign on for one final year.
Now the circumstances are not the same in 2011, but one could certainly argue that we need Fabregas for one more year now, more than we needed ‘the Iceman’ in 2005. Dennis was in his mid 30’s, and whilst still a remarkable player, the team was not built around him or reliant on him as it had been in earlier years. Indications this week are that Cesc will stay as he has told us himself that only monsieur Wenger can make the decision to sell him and will not ask to leave. However, he will return to Barcelona one day, and with Xavi turning 32, you have to think 2011/12 could be the ‘one more year’ for our skipper.
So I hope he stays, and I hope, as I have said in a previous article last week, that we revert to a four man midfield, but only last week I thought that would be without our uniquely talented Spaniard. With a stronger back four, as we had in the 1998, 2002 and 2004, we do not need a genuine holding midfield player. So I hope we do give the traditional formation a go, but either way, Fabregas will thrive. He is not necessarily a genuine goal-scoring central midfielder yet, but like the great Dutchman before him boy can he create goals for those around him.
Great Read ! I have similar viewpoint! Fabregas is not only the passer of the decade but the century ! Scholes cannot come near him ! Neither any other retired, long retired or new players ! Loved when u said ‘It is not a case now of what Fabregas owes to
Arsenal, but what Arsenal owes to him.’
Hate the fact tht he’ll eventually go to Barca to replace Xavi. How much i want them to find another plar to do tht and Fabregas to retire at arsenal !
Fabregas would stay one more year. My instinct tells me n that is my prayer. He is a talented guy.
a good read dave and we all seem to forget that he is still only a youngster . my gut feeling is that if the right money is offered cesc will go dont get me wrong i would love him to stay for good but if a player is unhappy and his heart isn’t in it anymore then best move on . only the professor will know whats best hes done ok so far
love these articles, keep them coming! i liked on facebook 🙂 cesc is quality, but wilchire is better and puts all his heart into the team, cesc seems uninterested in some games, maybe he doesnt thrive as a captain of the team, dont know…