CESC FABREGAS has blasted his Arsenal team-mates for lacking a "winning mentality" - but insists he is still happy at the club.
The Gunners captain has been out for almost a month after picking up a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland. Since then, Arsene Wenger's side have lost back-to-back Premier League games - going down 3-2 to West Brom at home before losing 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Those defeats have given Arsenal's critics renewed ammunition that the team are simply not strong enough to end their five-year wait for a trophy. But although Fabregas maintains he is content at the Emirates Stadium, the 23-year-old World Cup winner has told the club's players to raise their game. He said: "A winning mentality is missing. "I'm very comfortable here, I like the club, lead the team and play football but we need to start winning titles because we have a wealth of quality." Fabregas came close to joining Barcelona in the summer only for Arsenal to turn down a £29million offer for their talisman.
But the Spaniard has reiterated his desire to one day pull on the shirt of his boyhood idols. He told Spanish radio statio Cadena Cope: "I maintain that I was right because [to play for Barcelona] is a dream I've had since childhood. "But the truth is that Arsene Wenger is like a second father to me. I told him what I thought. "There were difficult moments. In the end, when I spoke to Wenger he told me no - he was very emphatic, that the transfer was impossible. "I'm satisfied for all parties. It wasn't to be and that's that, though in my head I keep thinking it could have been a good opportunity."
　
Cesc: We lack winning mentality
　
CONCERNED ... Cesc Fabregas has told his Arsenal team-mates to develop a winning mentality
　
　
Sticking with the Gunners: But Cesc Fabregas wants a trophy this term
　
You're not going anywhere: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
battled to keep hold of Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas, who will miss the clash against Birmingham at Emirates Stadium with a hamstring problem, expressed his concerns over the current squad's ability to deliver silverware. Arsenal suffered successive league defeats before the international break, losing at home 3-2 to West Brom and then going down 2-0 at Chelsea. But Wenger feels once that illusive first trophy comes, the last being the FA Cup in 2005, then more will follow.
He said: "It can be misinterpreted. I think everybody has a great desire to win, but you get a winning mentality as well when you have won. "What is at stake for us is not the desire to win, but to make history and to win trophies. "As long as you have not won you are not completely certain that you can do it but that does not mean that you lack the desire to win. "This team has a great desire to win, but you have to show it week in week out. "This life, at the top level today, in the best league in the world, is to turn up every single game at full cylinders."
ARSENE WENGER admitted Jack Wilshere deserved to see red against Birmingham but insists he did not mean to harm his opponent. The Arsenal youngster showed his immaturity with a reckless challenge on Nikola Zigic in the closing stages of the 2-1 win at the Emirates. But while Wenger has called for harsh penalties for X-rated tackles, he does not feel Wilshere's fell into that category.
He said: "Jack mistimed his tackle and got a red card, which he deserved. "He has acknowledged he deserved it, but he did not spend his whole game trying to kick people, he was one of the best players on the pitch today. "It was more of frustration and did not want to hurt the player, but we do not complain about the red card. "I think he mistimed his tackle, his first touch let him down. He didn't complain about it. "There was no intention to harm the player. He is not a dirty player.
"Wilshere will be suspended for three games and will be punished. Wenger admitted the pressure of defeats in his team's last two games had weighed heavily on his players. He added: "Victory was imperative. We played with nerves, and you could see our fluency was affected by the fact we had not won for two games. "We played a bit with the hand brake in the final third, especially when we were 2-1 up.
"It was never comfortable today, you could see and feel that in the way we played." Birmingham boss Alex McLeish maintained Zigic was lucky to have escaped serious injury and feels this incident shows just how easy it is for mistimed challenges to end in disaster.
He said: "It was a bad tackle and if he does not get a red card for that, then we pack our bags and go home. "Zigic was lucky not to get a very badly damaged leg. "We have had to put up with the Eduardo stuff for the last couple of years, and it is scandalous.
"It was a mistimed tackle from Martin Taylor and caused terrible damage to Eduardo but that tackle could have caused Zigic a lot of damage. "We know Jack Wilshere is not a dirty player, but it does show you players can mistime in this hurly-burly game in football. Everybody has to recognise that. "It was a bad tackle and it was the correct decision."
Arsene Wenger celebrated his 800th game in charge of Arsenal
when they beat Birmingham at the weekend. It has been a tumultuous 14 years for the Frenchman who has seen his team win two doubles, go unbeaten for a whole season but is currently residing over a five-year trophyless spell.
Remember the days?:
Wenger celebrates with the Premier League
trophy in 2004
The Highs:
Double 1998
A tight season was wrapped up on May 3 when the Gunners demolished Everton 4-0 at Highbury with Tony Adams, of all people, bagging the fourth. The double was completed at Wembley six days later with a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle.
Double, no trouble: Arsenal players celebrate after beating Newcastle to win the FA Cup in 1998 Invincibles A feat never to be repeated? Certainly not any time soon. Arsene's imperious Gunners cast all aside.
The 2003-04 season will be long remembered - Arsenal's record was Played 38, Won 26, Drawn 12, Lost 0.
Winning title at Old Trafford
In hindsight, the fact that the Gunners needed a mere point against Manchester United to secure the title made this game a touch easier than many imagined. But it certainly didn't feel like that on the night. In a tight game, Fabien Barthez saved Freddie Ljungberg's shot but Sylvain Wiltord popped up to steal all three points to seal the club's third Double.
Dominating north London
There was a time when the Tottenham and Arsenal would vie for supremacy of the capital but the Gunners dominance over the last two decades is thanks to Wenger.
As Wenger reigned, Spurs have tried a myriad of managers and thrown tens of millions of pounds at players ... but have just two Carling Cups to show for it.
Turning Thierry Henry into a master
Henry arrived at Highbury from Juventus a talented right-winger who had yet to reach his potential - he left eight years later a Gunners legend. Wenger nurtured Henry into one of the most devastating players the English game has ever seen – a joy to behold. But it didn't end too well for the pair – more of that later.
Arsenal great: Thierry Henry
The Lows:
No trophy for five years
'This will be our year.' Often the refrain of Spurs fans but is now fast becoming the mantra for many Gooners. Patrick Vieira won the club's last trophy with a penalty shoot-out strike against Manchester United at Cardiff in May 2005. The game has moved on greatly since then, but Arsenal's trophy cabinet has remained untroubled.
Touchline bust ups
Never shy at expressing his point, Wenger has been involved in a number of bust ups with managers and officials down the years. From going toe-to-toe with Spurs boss Martin Jol to being sent to the stands at Old Trafford and mocked by the fans - Wenger has never been far from the action.
Should have gone to Specsavers
We know you were at the game, everyone saw what happened but you still insist on saying the you didn't see the most controversial incident in countless matches. Following Emmanuel Adebayor's headbutt on Nicklas Bendtner in a Carling Cup tie the Arsenal boss remarked: ‘I did not know anything about it. I didn't see it.'
Frustrating doesn't even come close.
Lack of money
Granted, it isn't Wenger's fault the club moved - at great cost - 200 yards up the road but he still refuses to splash the cash despite great financial figures. Arsenal announced record pre-tax profits of £56million for the year ended May 31 this year. But why hasn't he spent any money a new keeper the club need so badly?
Down and out: Wenger feels the strain as another chance for silverware goes begging
Letting Henry go too soon Much like Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger doesn't let players go when they are still at the peak of their powers. As Arsenal have stopped winning trophies who can deny the club could have done with the cool head, calming influence and talent of Henry for at least another couple of years?
You lot are a bunch of thugs!
ARSENAL were under fierce attack last night from Birmingham's players for their controversial behaviour at the Emirates.
Alex McLeish's team, who lost 2-1 on Saturday, are furious with the North Londoners following FIVE flashpoints:
It came just 24 hours after boss Arsene Wenger demanded tougher sanctions for tackles from hatchet men. Yet Birmingham were furious after...
1. Jack Wilshere's reckless lunge on striker Nikola Zigic, which saw the Arsenal youngster sent off.
2. A 'dive' from Marouane Chamakh following Scott Dann's challenge, which let Samri Nasri equalise from the spot.
3. Nasri jabbed a knee into the back of Liam Ridgewell which boss Alex McLeish felt should have seen him sent off.
4. An alleged punch in the face to David Murphy which left the sub needing stitches.
5. A "scissor" tackle from Emmanuel Eboue on left-back Ridgewell.
The Sun | The Best for News, Sport, Showbiz, Celebrities & TV | The Sun| The Sun
Umerudi toka kifungoni karibu huu ni ushabiki tu hayo ni makosa ya kawaida katika mchezoYou lot are a bunch of thugs!
ARSENAL were under fierce attack last night from Birmingham's players for their controversial behaviour at the Emirates.
Alex McLeish's team, who lost 2-1 on Saturday, are furious with the North Londoners following FIVE flashpoints:
It came just 24 hours after boss Arsene Wenger demanded tougher sanctions for tackles from hatchet men. Yet Birmingham were furious after...
1. Jack Wilshere's reckless lunge on striker Nikola Zigic, which saw the Arsenal youngster sent off.
2. A 'dive' from Marouane Chamakh following Scott Dann's challenge, which let Samri Nasri equalise from the spot.
3. Nasri jabbed a knee into the back of Liam Ridgewell which boss Alex McLeish felt should have seen him sent off.
4. An alleged punch in the face to David Murphy which left the sub needing stitches.
5. A "scissor" tackle from Emmanuel Eboue on left-back Ridgewell.
The Sun | The Best for News, Sport, Showbiz, Celebrities & TV | The Sun| The Sun
Mchungaji unaijua ilw movie ya "two can play that game"?
Ngoja na sie kidogo tupige watu makonzi tujenge confidence!
If this was billed as a top-of-the-table clash in Group H of the UEFA Champions League, then nobody told magnificent Arsenal. Arsene Wenger's side were ruthless in dispatching Shakhtar Donetsk, who too had come into this tie with an unblemished record in their two group games. The win means Arsenal have all but qualified for the knock-out stages for the 11th year in a row. And with 14 goals scored in three matches, they have barely broken sweat.
The fit-again skipper bagged a penalty as the Gunners made it three wins and 14 goals from three Champions League Group H ties. Alex Song and Samir Nasri bundled the softest of strikes to put Arsenal in the strongest of positions. Then Fabregas' 60th minute spot-kick, Jack Wilshere's glorious team goal and Marouane Chamakh's simple fifth completed the rout. Former Gunners striker Eduardo got a standing ovation from home fans when he half-volleyed Shakhtar's delightful late consolation.
In-form frontman Chamakh had nodded over early on when Fabregas supplied the first true chance of Arsenal's dominant night. Then Chamakh lost his marker, only to slip in a decent position just inside the area. But a horrendous blunder from Shakhtar keeper Andriy Pyatov transformed the contest on 19 minutes. Johan Djourou stabbed the ball goalwards when Pyatov dropped Nasri's routine cross. And, after the ball ricocheted off Olexandr Kucher, Song nudged his first goal of the season. Pyatov, though, soon smartly saved a fierce Nasri volley.
And Wilshere, fresh from his weekend red card at Birmingham, was lucky to escape even a booking when he left a foot in on Tomas Hubschman. Arsenal, however, had penalty appeals rejected after Razvan Rat barged into the back of Rosicky. Enrik Mkhitaryan and Rat promptly fired over when Shakhtar conjured two corners in quick succession. Mostly, though, the Gunners weaved passing patterns in the face of a crammed Shakhtar defence.
And visiting captain Darijo Srna mis-timed a challenge on Nasri from Song's cross, enabling Nasri to hammer into the roof of the net from 10 yards. Arsenal resumed total control after the break, Shakhtar finally paying for their shirt-tugging in and around the area. Luiz Adriano picked up a yellow card for pulling down Song as a line of Gunners players homed in on a free-kick. And Fabregas tucked the resulting penalty into the top corner. The Spanish World Cup winner was promptly replaced by Denilson as boss Arsene Wenger gave his most valuable performer a rest. And it was the man who could eventually wrestle that tag off Fabregas who bagged the goal of the night. Rosicky's first-time pass to Wilshere lit up the finest move of the evening on 64 minutes - and the England midfielder swept home Arsenal's fourth. Chamakh mocked Shakhtar's offside trap four minutes later, slotting in via Pyatov's body.
Eduardo grabbed a poacher's special eight minutes from time. And the glowing reception he got from home supporters was a warm-up for the more spectacular ovation Arsenal fans gave their own team at the final whistle
ARSENE WENGER is confident he can persuade Cesc Fabregas to commit his long-term future to Arsenal.
Gunners captain Fabregas was linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer, with the Spanish champions failing with a £29million bid to lure him to the Nou Camp. But although Arsenal boss Wenger understands the 23-year-old's desire to one day pull on the shirt of his boyhood heroes, he insists the midfielder is happy to stay at the Emirates Stadium. Wenger said: "Fabregas is a player who deeply loves the club, believe me. "I believe he wants to win with this club. For how long I don't know, but I hope for many years.
"He is part of our potential to win and for how well we will do. "You can understand he has an attraction to the club where he grew up but I'm confident we will keep him for a few more years."