Barca tie excites Cesc

Arsenal skipper relishing chance to tackle European champions

Last updated: 22nd March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Barca tie excites Cesc

Fabregas: Relishing challenge

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Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is unfazed by the prospect of facing Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

The Catalan giants won the competition in stunning fashion last season and are tipped to lift the trophy again in Madrid on 22nd May.

The Gunners face a daunting task trying to contain a star-studded team including the likes of Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Xavi, but Fabregas insists he is relishing the challenge.

The Spaniard, who came through the youth ranks at Camp Nou before moving to Arsenal, maintains that it is an excellent opportunity for Arsene Wenger's men to show what they are capable of.

"If you want to win this competition, you have to beat everyone who is coming," he explained.

Mentality

"If we had been drawn against Bordeaux or Lyon we would have taken it the same way.

"Barcelona is a great team, but we always go with the same mentality and that is to win."

Fabregas continued: "We are going to play against the best team in Europe, probably in the world.

"The boys are really looking forward to it as it is another opportunity to play against a great team in a great stadium. It will be very exciting."

Arsenal's supporters will already be looking forward to Barca's visit to Emirates Stadium on 31st March and the return leg six days later but Fabregas is focused on going into the European tie on the back of consistent domestic form.

The Gunners are chasing the Premier League title after beating West Ham 2-0 at the weekend and Fabregas is looking forward to the next game against Birmingham.

"At the moment we have won nothing," he declared.

"We are not thinking about being champions. We are only thinking about Birmingham next week.

"There is a lot of time to think about Barcelona.

"Our first priority is Birmingham and that it is the sign of champions, taking things game by game."

Strong squad

Fabregas has earned rave reviews for his performances this season and he produced another fine display in the win over West Ham after coming back from a hamstring problem.

He was delighted to return but maintains that Arsenal have proved on several occasions they do not rely on him.

"I hated being out for two weeks," said the Arsenal captain.

"I wanted to come back, but I was a little concerned in the first half to see how the hamstring was.

"People who say we are a different team without me are completely wrong.

"I have missed five Premier League games and except Everton, where we drew, we have won all the games. It is a strong squad and anyone can play at any moment."