Fabregas ready to deliver

Arsenal tonight begin a new era under the captaincy of Cesc Fabregas – who has pledged the young Gunners must now “fulfil our potential”.

Manager Arsene Wenger stripped former Chelsea defender William Gallas of the captaincy and left him out of the group at Manchester City on Saturday following his latest public criticism of the squad, questioning their fighting spirit and revealing details of a supposed troubled dressing room.

While Gallas, 31, has been reinstated to his defensive role for the Champions League clash against Dynamo Kiev, Wenger decided enough was enough and moved to appoint 21-year-old Fabregas as the new permanent skipper, one of the youngest in the club’s history.

The influential Spain international midfielder is already regarded as an integral part of Wenger’s squad and intends to make the most of the opportunity, which cynics could suggest would be a further sweetener to ward off any potential transfer away from the Emirates Stadium.

“It is a great honour for me to captain one of the biggest clubs in the world. It is a proud moment,” Fabregas declared.

“I know it is a big responsibility, but together with my team-mates, I know we have the spirit and commitment to get back to winning ways and fulfil our potential.”

Gallas, 31, was something of a unexpected choice to be installed as permanent skipper after Thierry Henry left for Barcelona. Last season, he famously lost composure at Birmingham when breaking down in the centre circle and recently accepted he had put in some “tired” performances.

Nevertheless, the veteran Frenchman had always been given the full backing of his manager – until the events of last week and Gallas’ hard-hitting revelations.

Wenger, though, hopes the matter can now be put behind player, squad and club alike as Arsenal aim to secure a place in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition with a match to spare.

Gallas arrived from Chelsea as part of the deal which took full-back Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge in August 2006, and Wenger insists he has no regrets about making the outspoken Frenchman his Arsenal captain.

However, the Gunners boss accepted the pressures of the role may have taken their toll in the end.

“I have a big respect for him,” said Wenger. ”William is a player and a man whom I rate.

“He was working as a captain in a very difficult media environment, he was under big pressure from the press and at some stage you do not want this high pressure to affect him or the team.”