Sat 7th Nov - Molineux
By Chris Harvey Last updated: 2nd December 2008
Fabregas: Given Bentley support
When appointing Cesc, Arsene Wenger said he didn't believe in captains who screamed and waved their hands in the air; he said he believed more in a player who can dictate the play with clever passes and lead by example.
David Bentley
Quotes of the week
Cesc Fabregas has been backed to be a success as Arsenal skipper by north London rival David Bentley.
Spurs midfielder Bentley believes the Spaniard will prove a fine leader even though he is not as vocal as former Arsenal captains Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira.
After seeing Fabregas inspire the Gunners to a 2-1 victory at Chelsea this weekend - a win which has re-ignited their title hopes - Bentley told Zoo magazine: "He is not exactly in the old-school English mould of a captain, but I reckon he's a top choice all the same.
"When appointing Cesc, Arsene Wenger said he didn't believe in captains who screamed and waved their hands in the air; he said he believed more in a player who can dictate the play with clever passes and lead by example.
"That might sound odd from a manager who has had incredible success with chest-beaters such as Tony Adams and Patrick Viera - but I think that he's right.
He added: "Those guys were vocal, sure, but they also had such an aura about them that you felt like you'd follow them through a brick wall if they asked you to."
However, Bentley believes the days of a team captain being the one to below orders to his team-mates have gone.
He said: "The modern game doesn't need screamers and guys who clench their fists - it needs quality men who get on with doing the right things, on and off the pitch.
"I suspect Fabregas can do this and become a long-term, successful skipper at The Emirates."
Read the full article in ZOO magazine, out now

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| Tuesday 24th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Arsenal vs Standard Liege |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 2nd December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 19:45 | Man City vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Stoke |
| Wednesday 9th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Olympiacos vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 13th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Liverpool vs Arsenal |
| Wednesday 16th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Arsenal vs Hull |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa |
| Wednesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Everton |
| Sunday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Bolton vs Arsenal |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Arsenal |
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Arsenal vs Liverpool |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 AZ | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Wednesday 28th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Arsenal 2 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Tuesday 20th October | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| AZ 1 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 1 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 6 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Tuesday 29th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 0 Olympiacos | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 0 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Tuesday 22nd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Arsenal 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Wednesday 16th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Standard Liege 2 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 4 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Wednesday 26th August | |
| UEFA Champions League Qualifying | |
| Arsenal 3 - 1 Celtic | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| UEFA Champions League Qualifying | |
| Celtic 0 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 6 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Valencia 2 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 11 | 27 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 11 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
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