Wenger will protect Fabregas talent

Arsene Wenger believes Spanish youngster Cesc Fabregas is a humble boy who needs to be protected at Highbury – despite his “big hair” and huge talent.

Fabregas, at just 17 years and 103 days, became Arsenal’s youngest-ever Premiership player in the 4-1 win at Everton on Sunday – and displayed both ability and maturity.

However, it was no surprise to those who had seen him make his Arsenal debut aged 16 years and 177 days against Rotherham in the second round of last season’s Carling Cup before he became their youngest-ever scorer in the next round against Wolves.

Fabregas also measured up to Roy Keane and company in the Community Shield win over Manchester United last week.

So Wenger had no hesitation throwing the former Barcelona starlet into the midfield battleground at Goodison Park with Patrick Vieira injured and Brazilian Edu still resting after Copa America.

The Arsenal boss said: “He is an outstanding talent but we will go slowly with him. When Arsenal played at Everton last season many people saw Wayne Rooney for the first time. Now we have another great young talent in the English game – and there are others coming through.

“But I remember that David Moyes (the Everton manager) did not rush Rooney into every game and that will be our policy with Cesc. He needs to be nurtured, not mentally because he is a humble person, but physically because he is still like a boy in many ways.”

As if to challenge Wenger’s theory, Fabregas – snapped up from Barcelona last October after turning down the Spanish club’s pleas to sign a full contract - fearlessly took on Everton’s tough midfielders Lee Carsley and Thomas Gravesen.

His flowing locks seemed to be everywhere as he impressively completed the full 90 minutes.

Now he has been given the number 15 shirt in the Arsenal squad, previously worn by Ray Parlour, whose Middlesbrough side are at Highbury on Sunday.

But the reverse side of the coin is shown by another young hopeful Sebastian Svard, 21, who, the season before last, played more reserve-team games than any other Arsenal player in the campaign but appeared only twice for the senior side in cup ties.

The Dane has now dropped down from 31 to 32 in the squad list although he came on as a late substitute in the Community Shield win over United and doubts his future with Arsenal.

He is considering asking for a move if he does not get more playing time soon. “As it looks right now, I’m not going to play on regular basis in the first team. I’m not good enough, and that’s why I have to start thinking of moving on with my career,” he admits.

“Playing on a regular basis has top priority, and if it isn’t possible at Arsenal, I will have to try elsewhere. On the other hand everything can happen, and right now I’m concentrating on just doing my best.

“But I think it gets harder every year to enter the line-up, as the surroundings demand trophies and higher standard from the players.

“I wish I knew what Arsene Wenger thinks, because I might have to do something that he won’t like.”

Svard, who spent much of last season on loan to FC Copenhagen, the club which he left for Arsenal just over three years ago, and then had a shorter spell at Stoke City, added: “It hasn’t made things better that I have been away on a loan basis.

“I was also injured for a period and that has put me back at Arsenal. Now there are new young players I have to beat for a place.”