It seems he has decided, but why on earth would Cesc Fabregas want to leave Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, the club and manager whose combined efforts have helped him become one of the best players on the planet? Most of the reasons have been mentioned by contributors to the Gooner website and fanzine. For me they are focused in four main factors:

1. The Usual Suspects
The team contains too many suspect players, some outright weak links and little quality back up; let’s name names - Denilson, Diaby, Almunia, Bendtner. Can a truly ambitious club really consider these guys as regular first team players? Of course not - so why should one of the best players on the planet be content to captain this team of misfits when Barcelona want him?

2. The Protection Racket
Can Wenger really not see that Cesc needs on-pitch protection from physical assault? Skillful players get more protection from referees in La Liga than in the Premiership and yes, Barcelona are allowed to play without anything vaguely approaching the degrees of physical intimidation handed out to Arsenal. But Barca also have the combative Danny Alves and Puyol. Cesc’s hamstrings and bones are already showings signs of the abuse the whole team receives. So why should he wait for the inevitable and, more importantly, why has Wenger not bought even a cheapo heavy, maybe a Ryan Shawcross or Martin Taylor lookalike, to protect Cesc?

3. ‘Ministry for Truth’
Who can believe the media pronouncements of a club that consistently reports crowds of 60,000+ in a three-quarters full stadium, or a manager who has been bullied by the media into blatantly inappropriate post-match statements about ‘mental strength’, which have become as predictable as the clearly contrived crowd figures? Or a refusal to replay even minor controversial incidents on the big screens? And, typically, where are the Fabregas situation comments this morning on Arsenal.com? Precisely.

4. Continual transition/GroundHog Day
Will the enforced post-Highbury experiment ever end?

Barcelona are now without doubt the best team in the world. They have the best player in the world. They are a team of winners. And now on the eve of what might easily be his World Cup, they seem ready for Cesc – how can he possibly refuse?

I’ve met Cesc a few times, most notably at Sky’s Cesc Fabregas Show, when I got the chance to speak to him at some length. He’s a charming guy, open and honest (see Point 3) and he has been fantastic for Arsenal (see Point 1). I’m gutted that he’s going but wish him well, sincerely, whatever he finally decides. And those number 15 Highbury boothooks (Ed’s note – from the Highbury bootroom and bought by the author at the old stadium sell-off auction) are definitely not destined for Ebay.

But whither Arsenal?