Fabregas: ‘I just want to win for Arsenal’

CESC FABREGAS has hit back at those who criticised him for demanding a move away from Arsenal in the summer as the Spaniard prepares to make an emotional return to Barcelona.

The Arsenal skipper’s future was the subject of intense speculation towards the end of last season and the midfielder handed in a transfer request as he attempted to engineer a move back to the club he left to join Arsenal aged just 16.

Barcelona had a £29m bid rejected as Arsene Wenger managed to hold on to his captain, although many assume it is simply a matter of time before he returns to his spiritual home.

But on the eve of the side’s hugely anticipated Champions League last 16 second leg clash at the Camp Nou, Fabregas was forced to defend his behaviour and he made no attempt to conceal his displeasure at those who criticised his actions in the summer.

And the Spaniard insisted he would take no greater pleasure from beating Barcelona if Arsenal manage to cling on to the 2-1 first leg victory that they secured in a pulsating tie at the Emirates almost three weeks ago.

“I am not here to shut up (people who make) comments or to beat anyone specifically or whatever,” said Fabregas, whose cause is likely to be helped by the shock news that Robin Van Persie has made a miraculous recovery from a knee injury and could play.

“I am just here to win for Arsenal Football Club. Sometimes I don’t understand these reactions or comments about people saying I want this or I feel this. I want to win for Arsenal and that’s it.

“I don’t like people talking about what I feel. Only I know what I feel, and I am not going to tell you!

“I don’t put anything extra in my head because I play against Barcelona in the Nou Camp. It is a special game for everyone because it is a special stadium and we play against a good team and that’s it. Its one more game that we want to win.”

But Fabregas admits his side have to improve hugely against the team who knocked them out last season. The first leg finished 2-2, but Arsenal were torn apart in Catalunya, losing 4-1 after Lionel Messi scored four times in an astonishing display.

Yet despite the absence of the injured Alex Song and Theo Walcott, this Arsenal side is likely to be much stronger than that from a year ago, and Fabregas insisted he was fit to play himself after missing almost two weeks with a hamstring problem.

He added: “My fitness is good. For the last six days I haven’t felt anything.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger insists he will not take a gamble with Robin van Persie unless the Dutch forward is “100% fit.”

Van Persie was substituted during the Gunners’ Carling Cup final defeat against Birmingham after suffering a knee injury while scoring the equaliser at Wembley.

However, Van Persie trained with his team-mates at London Colney yesterday morning and was part of the 19-man squad which left Luton Airport yesterday afternoon.

“Van Persie is here as a player and will have a test (tomorrow). We are 19 here in he squad. Whether Van Persie will be included has not been decided yet,” Wenger said.

“He has made quick progress in the last three days. (This morning) he was really unlikely to travel.

“He wanted to have a go. We made a test and it was quite positive. We will see how he responds to that and I will make a decision (tomorrow) morning.”

However, the Gunners boss insisted: “We will not take a gamble in a game of that importance, so he will have to be fit or not fit.

“I would like him to play. But I will only play him if he is 100% fit.”