Cesc Fabregas has hinted he would be happy to spend the remainder of his career with Arsenal.
Fabregas, who left Barcelona’s youth system to join Arsenal at the age of 16 in 2003, has been linked with a return to the Catalan club, but the Arsenal skipper is ignoring the speculation.
“It does not affect me at all,” Fabregas said. “This [speculation] has been going for years. I don’t mind really if it happens, it happens – but it will not change the way I think. I do not think about it because I do not want to and I do not think I should.
“I am at a great club, with a great team and am happy. We have a long season in front of us, and the last thing I want to do is get disconnected from what I have to do playing for Arsenal, who are the club which pays me. I am really looking forward to a great season with Arsenal.”
Asked whether he could envisage staying at Arsenal for the whole of his career, Fabregas said: “Why not? I have never really thought about it, staying here all my life, because I am only 22 and you never know what your career will bring – but why not? It is my seventh season now, I am really happy, better than ever, so you never know.”
With leaders Chelsea visiting Emirates Stadium in the league at the weekend, Fabregas insists that Arsenal embark on an important week in the right frame of mind.
“The Chelsea game is vital. We have to win, and we will be ready for it,” Fabregas said. “Chelsea are a great team, one of the best in Europe, are very strong and have been playing together for a long time. They know each other very well, and you can see that on the pitch.
“I respect them a lot, but I know what we can do as well. If we play like we can at our best, then we can beat them. With the game in hand we have as well, we could still be there. But first of all, we think about the Liege game tomorrow (Tuesday), and then about Chelsea, but, yes, it is an important week for us.”
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