Cesc Fabregas on international duty for Spain against
Estonia
He insists that the Gunners remain too young a side to
win the title. In an outburst sure to outrage boss Arsene Wenger,
the Spanish midfielder pinpointed three key reasons why the
Londoners have been struggling to win some games this season.
They do not have enough experience.
Their squad is just too small.
They lost too many skilful players during the
summer.
At 21, Fabregas is already the senior man in Arsenal’s
midfield. Yet while before he could share the responsibilities with
the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Gilberto, Mathieu Flamini and Alex
Hleb, now he has no similar allies at the club.
He said: “Our squad is a bit short on numbers and we
are very young. Behind me there is Denilson, who is 20, or Alex
Song who is 21. Theo Walcott is 19 and Samir Nasri 21.
“It’s hard to imagine a midfield where I am the oldest
member. “We find it very hard to win matches, as we do not possess
enough experience. “I scored 13 goals last season but then I had
plenty of allies. Rosicky was around, Flamini covered every blade
of grass and Hleb was like a brother to me out there.
“The team played with a lot of skilful touches, we were
as solid as a brick wall and our opponents would not get a look in.
“Now none of those players are in the side and I feel like a rare
being. We are more defensive-minded and sturdy as a team but we
don’t play so much skilful stuff.”
Fabregas’ fears seem well placed, considering Arsenal’s
shock defeats already this season to Hull and Fulham. At times,
Wenger’s youngsters have been sublime, tearing apart teams like
Bolton, Blackburn and Sheffield United.
Yet their lack of experience has also let them down.
Only a last-minute Fabregas goal saved them from a third Premier
League defeat of the campaign so far in their last outing at
Sunderland.
Fabregas, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona at just 16,
admits he has struggled at times with life in England.
He added: “The hardest part of playing in England was
having to leave my family behind when I was so young. “I had to
endure all my problems by myself and my adolescence just passed me
by.”