Yes, it's official. Cesc Fabregas - "Fab 4" - is our new captain. Arsene Wenger revealed in his pre-match press conference today that Fabregas will take over as captain starting with the Champions League fixture against Dynamo Kyiv tomorrow. I'm really, really excited about this appointment and after that dreadful last 9 days this is a welcome source of good news.I have to say that for a while I have been hesitant to suggest that Fabregas be our new captain. For I believe perfectly legitimate reasons, I have felt that Fabregas was too young to captain and if given the role of skipper too much pressure would be put on his shoulders. I suggested Toure instead of Fabregas because of both Toure's experience, leadership, and long-time service to the club.
But the events of this year have changed my mind. Toure has been very much out of form and has been dropped by Arsene Wenger in favour of Silvestre. He has been only a shadow of his former self, and if he can't play, how can he be an on-pitch leader? Also, Fabregas has been feeling more and more like a captain this season. When the team is down, he picks them up. When we are in desperate need of some sort of inspiration, he provides it. When he scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland last month, it just felt to me like a captain's contribution. Fabregas feels like the new Mr. Arsenal, and at 21 he is following in the path of Tony Adams, the great Arsenal legend.
I have never really disliked William Gallas, that needs to be said. But perhaps Gallas was never really meant to be an Arsenal captain. Arsene Wenger took a risk last year in making Gallas captain; it was a risk designed to temper Gallas and make him more committed to Arsenal. On the first account this plan failed. On the second, I believe it worked. Gallas never seemed to have any inclination of quitting Arsenal, and, as evidenced by his antics in last year's Birmingham game, he took Arsenal's performance, good or bad, to heart and made Arsenal's problems his problems. But as much as he may have been committed to Arsenal, he is not a natural captain; his character doesn't allow it. He's committed, but maybe too much so.
This is wonderful news and it's filled me with excitement. This seems to be the start of a bold recovery plan by Arsene Wenger. Anyone calling for his head needs to shut up and stop calling themselves an Arsenal supporter. Arsene knows. In the last few weeks he's reshuffled the back line to attempt to shore it up, he's taken the armband away from Gallas, and he's given it to probably the new symbol of Arsenal: Cesc Fabregas. Who would've believed me if three years ago I told you that little 18-year-old Cesc Fabregas would be, in November 2008, Arsenal captain. It's a bold and daring move by Arsene Wenger, just like his last captain's choice. Now we'll see if this one turns out for the best.
I don't want to talk about the loss to City at the weekend, and there really isn't too much to say about Dynamo Kyiv tomorrow except this could be the beginning of a revival. We'll see, but I think that Arsene Wenger's recovery plan starts with a win tomorrow, inspired by Cesc Fabregas, followed with a determined, Manchester Utd fixture-like performance against Chelsea at the weekend. We'll see.
After a week in which we lost two matches, our captain, and Theo Walcott until February, at least we have gained something new: a brand new, determined, creative, and committed Arsenal captain in Cesc Fabregas. I can only hope this will inspire both the fan base (let's sing our hearts out for our new captain at the Emirates tomorrow), the club as a whole, and especially the Arsenal team. Good luck lads.
Fab 4: the new Arsenal captain.
Fab 4
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All this signals is that Toure is on his way out of the club as he was touted as future captain at the time of Henry's departure. He needs a change as he has lost form and a bit on the fat side too. Something happened to this club when Arsene (and he must take a lot of the blame for the present debacle) in his wisdom and for whatever reason decided to make Gallas captain. It started the downward spiral and I bet you that at the bottom of why Hleb and Flamini left could be a bit due to this fact too.
ReplyDeleteHleb and Flamini left because all they cared about was the cash and trophies availible elsewhere. I agree that it was a bad gamble Arsene took on Gallas, but don't confuse that gamble for being responsible for our current situation. This is the result of a number of factors, including the lack of not only a strong central midfielder, but also a general feeling of togetherness in the current squad.
ReplyDeleteArsene Wenger may have gotten us into this situation, but I also beleive he can get us out of it. He's already taken the first step in appointing Fabregas as the captain.
This is very good and a step in the right direction by Wenger. I have an absolute confidence that Fab C will deliver.
ReplyDeleteFabregas will be a great captain - he is intelligent, mentally strong, committed to the cause, has the respect of everyone at Arsenal and has already shown leadership qualities. Only a couple of weeks ago I remember seeing an interview with Adebayor saying how Fabregas had been getting the players together for meals etc outside the training ground. Like the writer said lets get behind him and the team as much as we can on Wednesday cos they need it
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