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By James Riach Last updated: 7th September 2010
Fabregas: Barca DNA
He was determined to go to Barca last summer, he more or less confessed it in the dressing room. But that is past history.
Thomas Vermaelen
Quotes of the week
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has admitted that team-mate Cesc Fabregas has Barcelona in his DNA.
The Spain midfielder, 23, has long been linked with a move to the club where he came through the ranks as a youngster and was expected to return to the Camp Nou in the summer.
However, a move back to Catalonia did not materialise despite bids from Barca, as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was not willing to let him leave.
It is widely thought that Fabregas will return to Barcelona in the not-too-distant future, with midfielder Xavi also claiming that his international team-mate has Catalan blood running through his veins.
Now Gunners defender Vermaelen has added fuel to the fire, revealing that Fabregas has made his intentions clear to his club-mates during the summer.
The Belgian defender said: "Cesc carries Barcelona in the heart, in his DNA...therefore it is impossible for him to forget about them.
"He was determined to go to Barca last summer, he more or less confessed it in the dressing room. But that is past history.
"Now he is 100 per cent ready to put his all in to a great season with Arsenal."
Fabregas claimed earlier in the week that Arsenal would not allow him to join La Liga champions, saying: "Barcelona did all they could to sign me but Arsenal told me I had to stay, that there was no way they were going to let me go.
"In the end I had to stay - but the content of my conversation with Arsene Wenger will remain private."
Fabregas started his first game of the season for Arsenal in their 2-1 win at Blackburn and is set to keep his place for the clash with Bolton this weekend.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 12th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Aston Villa vs Man City |
| Saturday 25th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Aston Villa |
| 17:30 | Man City vs Blackburn |
| Sunday 26th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Arsenal vs Tottenham |
| 13:30 | Norwich vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Swansea |
| Saturday 3rd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Norwich |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Chelsea |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Swansea |
| Sunday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Newcastle vs Sunderland |
| 14:05 | Fulham vs Wolverhampton |
| 16:10 | Tottenham vs Man Utd |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 12th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 5 West Brom | |
| Saturday 11th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Sunderland 1 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Bolton 1 - 2 Wigan | |
| Swansea 2 - 3 Norwich | |
| Everton 2 - 0 Chelsea | |
| Blackburn 3 - 2 QPR | |
| Fulham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Tottenham 5 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Monday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 0 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Sunday 5th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Chelsea 3 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 4th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 7 - 1 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 1 - 2 Swansea | |
| QPR 1 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Norwich 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 3 - 0 Fulham | |
| Wednesday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 QPR | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 25 | 58 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 24 | 57 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 53 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 25 | 43 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 25 | 43 |
| 6 | Newcastle United | 25 | 42 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 25 | 39 |
| 8 | Norwich City | 25 | 35 |
| 9 | Sunderland | 25 | 33 |
| 10 | Everton | 25 | 33 |
| 11 | Swansea City | 25 | 30 |
| 12 | Fulham | 25 | 30 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 25 | 30 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 24 | 28 |
| 15 | West Bromwich Albion | 24 | 26 |
| 16 | Queens Park Rangers | 25 | 21 |
| 17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 24 | 21 |
| 18 | Blackburn Rovers | 25 | 21 |
| 19 | Bolton Wanderers | 25 | 20 |
| 20 | Wigan Athletic | 25 | 19 |
Wales manager Chris Coleman welcomed the apologies from Kenny Dalglish and Luis Suarez.
The panel discuss Fabio Capello's exit, Harry Redknapp's future and Luis Suarez's behaviour.
Martin Samuel told the Supplement that Liverpool must tell Luis Suarez his behaviour was wrong.
Sir Alex Ferguson has given his backing to Man Utd's doctors after Owen Hargreaves hit out at the treatment he received at Old Trafford.
Man Utd put their 100 per cent record on the line, while Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be hoping for home comforts.
Owen Hargreaves has claimed he felt like a 'guinea pig' while having treatment on his knee problems during his time at Manchester United.
Man Utd's Javier Hernandez is available to face Stoke, while Rio Ferdinand will also hopefully feature.
Darren Bent has denied being critical of Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish following a "rather false article".
Comments (12)
Dominic Fusco (Arsenal fan) says...
We could manage without Fabregas as I also watched the Blackburn game as well as the Blackpool game and you could clearly see he doesnt want to be here but the biggest crime of the season is not signing a world class goalkeeper. I hope that this decision does not come back to haunt us at the end of the season
Posted 20:07 7th September 2010
Tom Olasina (Arsenal fan) says...
We need a new Skipper! Have we won anything since Fabregas started playing regular football for Arsenal (following Viera''s departure)? So, what''s the worst that can happen after Fabregas? (win nothing? thats where we are right now anyway!). Ditch the deadwood! what an ingrate!
Posted 20:00 7th September 2010
Mark Newing (Arsenal fan) says...
I think Fabregas body language speaks volumes he is not a happy player, someone tell me different, the club were within there rights to tell him he had to stay but who does it really benefit? I think its shocking what some of them Barca players have said about a great club like arsenal, they are so disrespectful, they should have said its entirely Cescs choice and left it at that, now some great players names have been tarnished because of there stupidity, I hope we dont have the same scenario next summer, but i know we will!!!
Posted 19:21 7th September 2010
Danny Manley (Arsenal fan) says...
It''s fine, we have Nasri anyway, but Fabregas, 30 million euros, that''s less than Milner sold for. Lets not be silly! 40-45 million they should be looking. Pounds not euros.
Posted 15:41 7th September 2010
Deji K (Barcelona fan) says...
Sooner or later he is coming back
Posted 15:39 7th September 2010
Tom Miller (Arsenal fan) says...
Ok, someone needs to tell just WHAT ON EARTH DOES THIS DNA THING MEAN???!!! How does one acquire a certain city in one''s DNA? I mean, come on! There are plenty of examples of footballers doing a great job for teams other than the one they support! Sometimes even for rival teams! This is a JOB, so deal with it...
Posted 15:31 7th September 2010
Luqman olayinka Ahmed (Arsenal fan) says...
Cesc should should show commitment to Arsenal since he still at Arsenal.
Posted 15:24 7th September 2010
Dutch Gunner (Arsenal fan) says...
Fabregas is already starting to sulk about his failed move to barca, mate if you had barca in your heart so much you should have thought about that before signing a 5 yr deal....I''m really getting sick of these overpaid crybabies who have everything handed to them on a silver platter and yet they still whine and sulk
Posted 15:21 7th September 2010
Arthur Yapuwa (Arsenal fan) says...
cesc should leave at the end of season. i wasn''t impressed at all with his body language against blackburn
Posted 15:21 7th September 2010
Tim Walton (Arsenal fan) says...
I think my rabbit has Barcelona DNA. To be honest, I think everyone in the world has Barcelona DNA, when will this stop??? At First the whole of Barcelona were trying to tap up our Cesc and now they are getting our players to push through this silly quote "Barcelona DNA" !!!!!
Posted 15:11 7th September 2010
Paradox Hollingsworth (Arsenal fan) says...
Cese Fabregas stay at Arsenal for 3more years..then go back to your DNA club....because right now u wont get in to your DNA club with the likes of there plays they got atm.
Posted 15:00 7th September 2010
Liam Young (Arsenal fan) says...
Barcelona didn''t do all they could to sign Fabregas, that''s a lie, If they wanted him they would''ve offered Arsenal FC a transfer fee worthy of thinking about and maybe even considering. £30milion? for a player who is on a long term contract and who is not for sale, not a chance, you should try doubling the offer Barca, then we''ll talk!!!! :D
Posted 15:00 7th September 2010