Fabregas 'fired up' by critics

Fabregas: High hopes

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Cesc Fabregas has revealed he and his Arsenal team-mates were determined to prove the critics wrong this season and the midfielder admits it would be 'unbelievable' to win the Premier League.

The young Gunners had been tipped to struggle this campaign after the summer loss of star striker to Thierry Henry to Barcelona.

However, Arsenal sit top of the Premier League and are midway through their two-legged UEFA Champions League last 16 clash with Milan.

The Gunners host Aston Villa, who are chasing a place in Europe, in the league on Saturday and ahead of the meeting Fabregas has revealed Arsenal's determination.

Pressure

Speaking to the Official Arsenal Magazine, in an interview conducted before last weekend's game with Birmingham in which Eduardo da Silva suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle, the Spaniard claims the Gunners have been 'fired up' by criticism.

"It is true that people were taking us out of the top four at the start of the season, even placing us in the middle of the table," said Fabregas.

"I don't think it added pressure, in fact it probably helped us more because we wanted to show everyone what we could do. It fired us up.

"We knew we had the quality, we know what we can do. The important thing is always not what others believe, but what you yourself believe.

Amazing

"If we don't do well then people can say what they want - but if we do well, then that will be for everyone inside the club and for the fans. That is who we are playing for, no-one else.

"You want to win all the time and last season it was difficult. Each morning when you wake up and go to training, if you are in third or fourth position, it is not the same.

"Now every morning when we come into training you feel ready to fight for the title, to take on the big teams, the big players, and that is why I really love being a footballer.

"If we can win it, it would be amazing considering the age of the team - it would be unbelievable."