Fabregas admits Arsenal struggle

A frustrated Cesc Fabregas has conceded that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would have been sacked by now if he was managing in Spain.

Wenger has failed to deliver the north London club with a trophy in the past six years, despite regular appearances in the Champions League and top-four finishes in the English Premier League.

The last time the Gunners tasted silverware was in the 2005 FA Cup final, when Fabregas was aged 18 years.

This season has been no different, with Arsenal all but out of the Premier League title race for another year after drifting six points behind Manchester United with five games left in the season.

Extended runs through the Carling Cup, FA Cup and Champions League have all come to nought.

But during his time at Arsenal, Fabregas has learned that other considerations come into play for English clubs.

In Spain, he said, the situation is far more straightforward – win or be sacked.

Asked how Wenger could remain in a job at the Emirates despite the trophy drought, Fabregas told Spanish magazine Don Balon: “It’s different here.”

“The coach is an intelligent person and the club value other things – that the team is always in the Champions League, that they fight until the end, bring through young players, economic stability.”

“I guess that for the board that is important. Although I imagine there will be a moment when you have to take the plunge – either you win or you don’t win.”

“It (Wenger’s position) is now easier to understand because I’ve been here for many years.”

“Obviously, if you come from Spain and you say to (Valencia boss Unai) Emery, and (Barcelona manager Pep) Guardiola and (Real Madrid coach Jose) Mourinho that they would spend three years without winning anything, it’s understood that they’re not going to continue in their position.”

Arsenal’s ongoing trophy-drought is often touted as one of the chief reasons for Fabregas’ long-feared defection to boyhood club Barcelona, a doomsday scenario that will surely be played out once again in the coming off-season.

Fabregas has for his part been largely silent on the matter, toeing the well-trodden line that ‘anything can happen’ in the future.

But as time wears and another season goes to waste, it seems the Spain international is feeling frustrated; admitting he is sick of making excuses for Arsenal’s barren run.

“From 2007 I had already started saying, ‘We’re not winning, but we’re playing well’. And then you realise that’s no use,” he said.

“You enjoy yourself, during a phase of the championship – like this year, for example, when we were still in four different competitions.”

“And you say to yourself, ‘Here I have everything’. But then that final point is missing and it’s then when you have to make a decision – either go out and win or develop players.”