Khalid Assiri
Farewells hurt. Those short ones where you barely have enough time to say “bye” hurt the most. Then come the ones where you only have hours, then the ones where you only have days... You get the idea. But ones drawn out for tens of months certainly don’t. They’re just annoying and tedious. And that was the case with our ex-captain’s farewell.
Cesc Fabregas left us after eight years of service, with many great memories although sadly not that many medals. He played 303 games for us, scoring 57 goals and making a century of assists. Like his lookalike Sylar from Heroes, Cesc possessed a vast array of abilities. One he did not was pace. I suspect it was only matter of time before he would have gotten to Theo Walcott’s brain. A central figure in our team, a talisman, a captain albeit not the best one we’ve ever seen, but I’m sure that nobody could ever question his commitment for Arsenal.
We all knew that Cesc leaving was inevitable. So why is it some Gooners have taken to Cesc’s exit so aggressively and bitterly? Surely, years were enough to prepare them for his exit. There have been many players who have left us and didn’t live the best of tastes in mouth, but Cesc has not been guilty over anything. First of all, he left for the best side in the world that is not only his boyhood team but is also filled with his childhood friends. Secondly and most importantly for us Gooners, the Arsenal Cesc joined was not the Arsenal he left. He is leaving an Arsenal that does not have one player who’d be guaranteed a place in the current Barcelona side.
When Cesc left Barcelona, Arsenal were actually better than Barcelona. Prayers like Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry would have all walked into that Barcelona team. Nay! Rather they would have strolled in. Arguably, the likes of Lauren, Freddie Ljungberg and a younger Dennis Bergkamp wouldn’t be far from being good enough for the 2003/2004 Barcelona. Whilst the likes of Javier Saviola, Luis Garcia and Gio van Bronckhorst who were regulars in that Barcelona side were decent players, they wouldn’t have been good enough for the 2003/2004 Arsenal. That Barcelona side finished second in La Liga that season with 8 defeats and 72 points, having crashed out of UEFA Cup to Celtic. Arsenal on the other side famously won the Premiership undefeated with 90 points, and were very cruelly knocked out by Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals.
But how has Arsenal deteriorate so much? This is a question that not only has to be asked to Arsene Wenger, but a question that Arsene actually has to ask to himself. Yes, Chelsea and Man City have spent massive money and have thus made competition in the Premiership tougher. But that doesn’t excuse Arsene for sticking by individuals like Diaby, Denilson and Almunia; and neither does it excuse him for buying offensively mediocre players like Silvestre, Squillaci and Chamakh. I still hold hope for the latter but he seems to be too one-dimensional and rigid.
Even if Cesc had promised to stay with us forever, how did he feel when instead of playing with great players who were amongst the best on the planet and were good enough to grace any side in the world, he started playing with those who would only grace mid-table teams at best. None of it was Cesc’s fault, and I fully understand his feelings and wish to leave. There is actually something wrong with a footballer who’d be content with picking up millions of pounds and being in a trophyless comfort zone without wanting to better himself. Isn’t this an attitude to scoff at?
The fact is if we were still a successful side, Cesc’s departure might have been put off for some years more. Cesc took a wage cut to join Barcelona and battle not only for trophies but also for a place in the first team. This is not greed, this is ambition and real hunger. Some claim he won’t be in Barcelona’s fist team and should get used to sitting on the bench. In my opinion, he’s actually better than Iniesta and Xavi. He is more direct and forward-thinking, has been toughened in England and also has an eye for goal.
As I finish this article, Cesc has already won two cups with Barcelona. I wish Cesc Fabregas more of the same in future. And as they say in Catalonia, adeu Cesc. No grievances... from me at least.
