'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
All it took was 10 minutes, a tough challenge and the killer pass…
Since 2005 and the tender age of 19, Fabregas was forced to shoulder a man’s responsibility at Arsenal. At that tender age, he was asked to fill in the gap left by Patrick Vieira, a legend and a veteran of Arsenal. At 21, he was made captain of one of the oldest and most successful clubs in England. To his enormous credit, he accepted the challenge head on.
Year after year, he saw experienced team mates depart and with every trophyless season he faced the wrath of the fans and the lynch mob that is the English press. His only respite came when he played for Spain. The Euro 2008 and World Cup in 2010 were akin to a summer retreat for Cesc. A team, where he was not the best player nor captain. Those outings gave him some much needed winners medals. More importantly, they gave him a taste of what he missed at Arsenal.
One can imagine, the dread he must have felt on returning to Arsenal after his international campaigns. Back to the scrutiny, the expectations, the strain of carrying a young team on his shoulders. Arsene Wenger was his self confessed father figure, but in many ways, Cesc was an orphan at Arsenal. The likes of Henry, Vieira, Bergkamp left too early and Cesc was robbed of his footballing “childhood” so to speak. Cesc needed more of what is shown in the video below. He didnt have enough it, certainly not enough to pass it down to the likes of Wilshere and Ramsey.
Too often, Fabregas felt let down by his teammates and justifiably so. Half fit, he fought against his heart and Barcelona to send Arsenal level on 2-2 in the 2010 Champions League, only to be let down by Arsenal in his absence. Too often, he saw Arsenal collapse on the pitch, while he nursed his overworked hamstring.
At 23, he had seen enough. He made it clear that he wanted to go back. Back to his hometown, to his friends and family. Even here, he handled the situation like a man. Never uttering a word against Arsenal or Wenger, Cesc kept the respect and admiration he had earned from Arsenal fan. A model professional till the end. The end as far as Arsenal is considered.
For Cesc though, this transfer is a new beginning. One that holds a lot of promise for him and for Barcelona. At 23, he has won the World Cup and Euro. With Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, he is sure to win the La Liga and Champions League within the next few years.
But trophies will be secondary to his experience at the Nou Camp. For this is a chance to grow up all over again. The image of Fabregas grinning like a little kid with his pal Gerard Pique captures the essence of what means the most to him as a Barca player.
Cesc is no longer under the spotlight and scrutiny. He has elders like Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta to look after him on and off the pitch. This and the obvious relief of a trophy are captured together beautifully in the accompanying image. Arsenal fans cannot remember the last time Fabregas was this happy. Here, he is thrilled to be concede the symbolic center stage to Puyol, something he is surely sick of doing over the last 5 or so years.
Arsenal fans have been largely forgiving of their El Capitan. Seeing how happy he is to be there will convince the minority who are still bitter. Many couldn’t believe that he was leaving and it didn’t really sink in until they saw Fabregas come on as a substitute against Real Madrid.
Within minutes, he drilled a cross to the striker at considerable pace. It wasnt Chamakh or Bendtner, it there was no heavy first touch and it didnot go straight to the keeper. Instead, after another quickfire and accurate exchange, it was volleyed home by the best player on the planet. No hold up, no frustration, just fluid and clinical finishing. And to his pleasant surprise, Cesc didnt have to do it all by himself for once.
In a sense, Cesc’s appearance and Cup success provides closure to Arsenal fans and to Fabregas from the Arsenal chapter of his life. All it took was 10 minutes, a tough challenge and the killer pass for Cesc to be a boy again.
