Arsenal + Barca = Frustration

A little birdie tells me that Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas is leaving Arsenal for Barcelona - where have we all heard that before? (cough* Thierry *cough) Rumours have been speculating long, long ago and obviously all Arsenal fans were reassured that these were just rumours. It was simply the same situation with Monsieur Thierry Henry - Arsenals greatest player.

Fabulous Fabregas is going to go. Lets face it, he wants to sort his future out before the World Cup, and who's to blame him? I would do the exact same thing before such a big tournament. Why play in doubt of not knowing where you're playing next season when you're on the biggest stage of them all. Funny thing is, he's got an Arsenal contract, and a future ahead of him. So why is he leaving? I remember him saying he wanted to help the youth project that Mr Wenger has been working on for so long, and wanted to be a central part in a 'developing team' win silverware. So, why is this guy, captain of the Gunners, 'apparently' asking permission to leave for arguably the best team in the world?! Fair shout, its an amazing opportunity, but with such temptations from bigger clubs taking away our players, what example is that making for the young guns? As soon as a big club come calling, you just jump ship? It just frustrates me as an Arsenal fan to see our big guns go to better teams, and leave us constantly developing players and accepting being there just for the sake of it.

It just annoys me having to 'reminisce' about the golden age, where we were dubbed 'The Invincibles", being unbeaten all season! Where did it go wrong? Well, Cole got greedy, Vieira went to Juve, Edu, Pires, Ljungberg, Campbell, Lauren, Lehmann, all went, and eventually, Henry. The team paved way for the young ones to fill the boats. Nothing good lasts forever, but, we're just not winning anything. Wengers formula for 'development' seems to have passed its sell-by- date as the game has changed. Money is, unfortunately, required to strengthen the teams of today. Fair do's - Arsenal are an established, solid top four team. But are we just gonna accept qualifying for a tournament in which we will not succeed in with 'developing players'? Arsenal fans are possibly the most patient fans in the world. But Mr Wenger, the genius that you are, the formula of the Invincibles team needs to be updated, edited, and apply to the modern game of today.

So, if Fabregas goes, I won't be surprised. I wish him the best of luck. He has the ability to be amongst the best, and undoubtedly he deserved to be amongst the elite. As an Arsenal fan, im disappointed that such a thing is happening once again. As a Fabregas fan, I support the move. We shall wait and see what developments occur.