Everyone seems to be accepting that Cesc is off for warmer (and more illustrious) climes this summer, but I’m yet to be convinced that this is a foregone conclusion. The logical ones of us quite rightly look at the two games against Barcelona and feel that Captain Fab has reached his own conclusions about the talent and ability of his team mates. This has been reinforced by our dismal end of season which nearly saw us lose our third place finish to that lot down the road. However, we were lucky enough to face a Fulham side with nothing to play for and two eyes on their UEFA Cup Final (I will never call it the Europa League) whilst the Spuds decided to go back to their own ways and lose to more fitting opposition.

Although Cesc undoubtedly is considering his future (and most of us will feel he is entitled to do so), I still feel he is more likely to leave next summer rather than this season for a number of reasons. The first is the amount of injuries we have had to key players. Let’s not forget how long RVP was out for, and the fact Gallas, Vermaelen and Cesc didn’t finish the season along with many others. Many players have improved and progressed; Eboue has shown great character to have come back from that Wigan game to become such a cult figure, Bendtner has become a useful goal threat, Song’s stock is rising and rising, and even Diaby and Denilson have added goals and key performances to their game (albeit against lesser opposition). Ultimately we finished far behind Chelski and Manure, but for large parts of the season we were excellent considering the extent of our injury problems and our gung-ho approach.

My next reason – and I may be mistaken, is that Cesc hasn’t come out and actually said he wants to leave right now. Granted he has said he is considering his future which could be interpreted as wanting to go, but the other side of it could be seen as a veiled threat to Wenger in order to get him to pull his finger out and buy some experienced players. The prospect for Wenger of losing Cesc would - at this stage, be one of the biggest blows of his tenure as manager, and potentially one that could finally push discontented Gooners over the edge. I don’t share the view from a growing number of supporters that many within this squad aren’t good enough, and argue that this talented bunch are quite capable of winning the league with the right additions. Over the past few seasons, when we have challenged for the league we can’t beat the big boys; when that pressure isn’t on we appear able to beat the Mancs and the Chavs. This clearly highlights to me a mental problem, and one that could be remedied by the acquisition of two or three players with that experience and will to win, not seen since the era of Adams, Keown and Vieira (the list could go on).

Moving onto my final point, I question how much Barca really want Cesc. It may sound like a stupid point as we all know that one day the prodigal son will return, but right now Barca aren’t in desperate need of his services. Sure it’d be nice, but Cesc represents a rather specific case in the fact he is 99.9% certain to only leave Arsenal for the Nou Camp. Guardiola has a wealth of talent at his disposal in midfield and can quite rightly wait to sign him, and in an ideal world Cesc will go for around £60m if the board hold firm. I can’t see Barca currently wanting to pay anything over £30m with maybe a player included right now, and if that doesn’t suit either parties, than I could see it being defaulted for another year, whereby Wenger may have plugged the gaps (I live in hope).

In summary I may be wrong, and as I write a deal could be being thrashed out right now. Usually Cesc and the club are quick to publish an official announcement denying the rumours, but none have been forthcoming which could be cause for concern. The other is that due to our debts, Wenger does have to balance the books and uproot players, which in itself poses the problem of bedding in a new and (more often than not) less experienced player that can take time to adapt and reach the level expected, and by then another is out of the door. However, I think many forget how young these players still are and that they must be doing something right to be still finishing in the top 4 for the last 5 seasons. There’s bags of potential, just a lack of leadership and that winning mentality that only trophy winners have. Although Barcelona showed us what it must be like to be Wigan, we mustn’t forget that they are at the peak of their cycle, while we are very much at the beginning of ours. Keep the faith people, and don’t be too surprised if Cesc is leading us out come August.