Arsenal - Player To Watch - Cesc Fabregas

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Cesc Fabregas

It's telling that Arsenal fans had one over-riding worry following the trophy-less end of last season and, unimaginably in the years preceding, it wasn't that Thierry Henry would leave. Henry's early summer departure for a scrap for a place in the forward line at Barcelona was accepted with weary resignation, many fans having accepted the player's departure a year before after the Champion's League defeat to Barcelona in Paris. The one departure they really feared was that of the 20 year midfield playmaker who now bears the mantle of Arsenal's stylistic lynchpin.

Arsene Wenger's knack for supporting talent in youngsters was never more apparent than when he snatched 16 year old prodigy Fabregas from Barcelona and fashioned him into one of the best young midfield prospects in Europe. Having only recently turned 20 and with more than 100 first team games for Arsenal under his belt, Fabregas really is the one player Arsenal can't afford to lose. Barcelona and Real Madrid may covet him from afar but, while Arsene Wenger remains Arsenal boss, his midfield prodigy will continue to pull the strings at the Emirates Stadium.