News @ AsiaOne

Fabregas: We have a chance to win things this season

CESC Fabregas is determined the Emirates Cup will not be the only piece of silverware the Arsenal players get their hands on between now and next May.


Wed, Aug 01, 2007
The New Paper

CESC Fabregas is determined the Emirates Cup will not be the only piece of silverware the Arsenal players get their hands on between now and next May.

The Gunners saw off Italian champions Inter-Milan in front of a bumper home crowd on Sunday courtesy of a fine late goal by Robin van Persie to win the inaugural four-team tournament.

It capped a weekend of promising performances, following another win over a sharp Paris St Germain side on Saturday and coming on the back of their productive training camp in Austria.

Arsenal will now head to Holland for the Amsterdam Tournament before they kick off the new Premier League campaign against Fulham on 12 Aug.

Spain midfielder Fabregas, 20, is confident the squad have learnt lessons from last season and have the hunger to mount a sustained assault on all fronts this time.

Fabregas declared: 'Success is to go for everything. I think this was the first trophy of many this season.

'We played some great football and if we keep doing it through the season we have a lot of chances to win things.

'We have a very young squad, but we are not scared of anything and want to win.

'We have a strong team - but we do not have to keep saying, 'we will win, we will win'.

'We have to keep going game by game and if we can keep the concentration and play like against Inter, we can win. Why not?

'But we need luck as well with the injuries. Manchester United and Chelsea, when they win big trophies, every weekend they nearly play the same players each time. '

INJURIES

Fabregas added: 'Last year we had big injuries to big players and sometimes you can say it does not affect you, but of course it affects you. They are great players and you miss them.

'That is why you try to have a big squad and replace somebody when they are injured.'

Arsenal's major summer signing was Brazil-born Croatia striker Eduardo da Silva, who is currently waiting on an appeal to the Home Office for a work permit which will be heard later this week.

With talisman Thierry Henry now gone following his big-money move to Barcelona, Fabregas feels it is time for the rest of the squad to make their own mark.

'Of course Thierry is a big miss, but we do not think about him any more,' said Fabregas.

'Good luck to him. He is a great player, but now he has gone. We wish him well, but that is it.'

The talented young midfielder insists he is fully committed to Arsenal, having agreed an eight-year contract extension last season.

'I always believed in the team and they make me believe,' said Fabregas.

'I am happy at Arsenal, I want to continue here and win many things for them.'

Fabregas added: 'Since I signed this contract everybody could see I really believe in this team and my commitment is the same as the first day I came here.

'I believed I could do something for Arsenal and now I have the chance to play for the first team.

'I have a big responsibility, like everybody, and all I want to do is play here.

'You never know in the future. When you are a footballer, anything can happen. But right now, Arsenal is the best place for me to be at.' - PA Sport.

 
 
 
Copyright ©2007 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
Privacy Statement Conditions of Access Advertise