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Henry Winter: Cesc Fábregas masterminds demolition of Spurs
Short on years but long on stature, Cesc Fábregas delivered a masterclass of modern midfield play in Saturday's North London Derby.
By Henry Winter
Published: 6:00PM GMT 31 Oct 2009
Happy days: Cesc Fàbregas and Robin Van Persie celebrate Arsenal's second goal Photo: GETTY
Arsenal's captain kept knocking on the neighbours' backdoor, bringing tricks, treats and oblivion to Spurs.
Of course, they sought to gang up on Fábregas, tried to squeeze the space around this noted playmaker, the man who makes his team tick, but the scarlet pimpernel in Arsenal's midfield soon eluded the close attentions of Tottenham's Wilson Palacios, Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas.
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One challenge from Palacios even removed the armband from Fàbregas, but this is a footballer who needs no badge of office to advertise his leadership qualities. Every touch does that.
Robin Van Persie collected the sponsors' bubbly for his double, but the eye kept being drawn back to Fàbregas, who scored the goal of the game, a magnificent strike after a determined dribble past white shirts that flapped like white flags. Spurs' resolve was broken by Fábregas. On the few occasions he lost possession, murmurs of disbelief briefly replaced the chants of "olé'' rolling around the Emirates. Fàbregas was that good.
The capital boasts many sights: the London Eye, Big Ben, Boris Johnson's hair, Wembley's arch, Frank Lampard's driving runs from midfield and Fábregas' array of passes. Left foot or right, a lay-off to Bacary Sagna here or sweeping through-ball to Eduardo there: Fábregas paraded the variety and vision in his game.
For the watching Fabio Capello, the Spaniard's performance was another reminder of the quality of ambush lying in wait when England journey through South Africa next summer. For the admiring Arsène Wenger,Fábregas' prominence was another reminder of why he believes Arsenal can reach for the stars this season in the Premier League and Champions League.
Asked whether there was any other midfielder in Europe of such tender years capable of dictating the tempo so brilliantly, Wenger shook his head.
"No, there isn't,'' replied the Frenchman. "That's why he plays for Arsenal. When we saw him play at 16, Cesc had certain things you cannot give. He had the science of how to play in the middle, when to turn, what areas to play the ball. That's talent.''
That's true but one obvious concern needs recording. Arsenal are heavily reliant on Fábregas. Injury to their No 4 or more effective marking would stymie Wenger's side. Supporters certainly acknowledge his importance.
"Since being trusted with the Arsenal captaincy,'' one fan inserted in Fábregas' Wikipedia entry, "it has been generally acknowledged that he is god in human form'', which seems excessive if reflective of the devotion he inspires in disciples.
They revered him even more after this. The first period was Arsenal in a nutshell, too pretty for too long before shifting up a gear. Fábregas, who had already tested Gomes with a low shot, raised the tempo in the last four minutes, going for the jugular as Arsenal struck like lightning – twice.
First Fábregas' understanding of team requirements was on display. This is a midfielder who plays with his head up, who always checks on team-mates' movement before even receiving the ball, let alone releasing it.
His role in Arsenal's opener was simple enough, returning the ball to Sagna, whose cross was flicked in by Van Persie.
The home fans did not have time to chant "One-nil to the Arsenal'' before Fábregas was weaving more magic. When Van Persie pressed Huddlestone into surrendering the ball, Fàbregas was off and running.
"There was a kind of shock in Spurs [after the first goal] and we took advantage of it,'' said Wenger. Fábregas darted in ahead of the diving Palacios, beat the sluggish Ledley King and then displayed a wonderful moment of trickery, giving Gomes the eyes. Shaping to place the ball to the right, he deceived the keeper by sweeping the ball into the other side of the goal.
Devastating.
Spurs folded, allowing Fábregas largely to run the second half. After Van Persie's second, well created by Sagna following perspicacious use of the advantage rule by the excellent Mark Clattenburg, Fábregas took over again, lifting a sublime pass over Spurs back-four for Eduardo. He missed badly, but the memory remained of Fábregas' delivery.
By the 70th minute, Fábregas was earning standing ovations simply for wandering over to take a corner. There was so much to admire, particularly his ability always to be available, often taking a couple of steps back from the fray to provide an outlet. As well as raiding through the middle, he roamed between the flanks, passing to Gael Clichy one moment, Sagna the next.
As Arsenal fans chanted "cheerio'' towards some Spurs supporters who had seen enough, Fábregas was hunting a fourth, lifting in a free kick that Eduardo headed at Gomes and then a corner that Abou Diaby nodded wide. In the dying seconds, Fábregas was still looking for another goal, displaying stamina and pace in racing 60 yards to support Sagna.
At the final whistle, Fábregas revealed his sporting side, jogging across to the vanquished, sweat-stained figure of Palacios to salute his opponent's endeavours. And Arsenal's hero hardly looked out of breath.
Short on years but long on stature, Cesc Fábregas delivered a masterclass of modern midfield play in Saturday's North London Derby.
By Henry Winter
Published: 6:00PM GMT 31 Oct 2009
Happy days: Cesc Fàbregas and Robin Van Persie celebrate Arsenal's second goal Photo: GETTY Arsenal's captain kept knocking on the neighbours' backdoor, bringing tricks, treats and oblivion to Spurs.
Of course, they sought to gang up on Fábregas, tried to squeeze the space around this noted playmaker, the man who makes his team tick, but the scarlet pimpernel in Arsenal's midfield soon eluded the close attentions of Tottenham's Wilson Palacios, Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas.
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One challenge from Palacios even removed the armband from Fàbregas, but this is a footballer who needs no badge of office to advertise his leadership qualities. Every touch does that.
Robin Van Persie collected the sponsors' bubbly for his double, but the eye kept being drawn back to Fàbregas, who scored the goal of the game, a magnificent strike after a determined dribble past white shirts that flapped like white flags. Spurs' resolve was broken by Fábregas. On the few occasions he lost possession, murmurs of disbelief briefly replaced the chants of "olé'' rolling around the Emirates. Fàbregas was that good.
The capital boasts many sights: the London Eye, Big Ben, Boris Johnson's hair, Wembley's arch, Frank Lampard's driving runs from midfield and Fábregas' array of passes. Left foot or right, a lay-off to Bacary Sagna here or sweeping through-ball to Eduardo there: Fábregas paraded the variety and vision in his game.
For the watching Fabio Capello, the Spaniard's performance was another reminder of the quality of ambush lying in wait when England journey through South Africa next summer. For the admiring Arsène Wenger,Fábregas' prominence was another reminder of why he believes Arsenal can reach for the stars this season in the Premier League and Champions League.
Asked whether there was any other midfielder in Europe of such tender years capable of dictating the tempo so brilliantly, Wenger shook his head.
"No, there isn't,'' replied the Frenchman. "That's why he plays for Arsenal. When we saw him play at 16, Cesc had certain things you cannot give. He had the science of how to play in the middle, when to turn, what areas to play the ball. That's talent.''
That's true but one obvious concern needs recording. Arsenal are heavily reliant on Fábregas. Injury to their No 4 or more effective marking would stymie Wenger's side. Supporters certainly acknowledge his importance.
"Since being trusted with the Arsenal captaincy,'' one fan inserted in Fábregas' Wikipedia entry, "it has been generally acknowledged that he is god in human form'', which seems excessive if reflective of the devotion he inspires in disciples.
They revered him even more after this. The first period was Arsenal in a nutshell, too pretty for too long before shifting up a gear. Fábregas, who had already tested Gomes with a low shot, raised the tempo in the last four minutes, going for the jugular as Arsenal struck like lightning – twice.
First Fábregas' understanding of team requirements was on display. This is a midfielder who plays with his head up, who always checks on team-mates' movement before even receiving the ball, let alone releasing it.
His role in Arsenal's opener was simple enough, returning the ball to Sagna, whose cross was flicked in by Van Persie.
The home fans did not have time to chant "One-nil to the Arsenal'' before Fábregas was weaving more magic. When Van Persie pressed Huddlestone into surrendering the ball, Fàbregas was off and running.
"There was a kind of shock in Spurs [after the first goal] and we took advantage of it,'' said Wenger. Fábregas darted in ahead of the diving Palacios, beat the sluggish Ledley King and then displayed a wonderful moment of trickery, giving Gomes the eyes. Shaping to place the ball to the right, he deceived the keeper by sweeping the ball into the other side of the goal.
Devastating.
Spurs folded, allowing Fábregas largely to run the second half. After Van Persie's second, well created by Sagna following perspicacious use of the advantage rule by the excellent Mark Clattenburg, Fábregas took over again, lifting a sublime pass over Spurs back-four for Eduardo. He missed badly, but the memory remained of Fábregas' delivery.
By the 70th minute, Fábregas was earning standing ovations simply for wandering over to take a corner. There was so much to admire, particularly his ability always to be available, often taking a couple of steps back from the fray to provide an outlet. As well as raiding through the middle, he roamed between the flanks, passing to Gael Clichy one moment, Sagna the next.
As Arsenal fans chanted "cheerio'' towards some Spurs supporters who had seen enough, Fábregas was hunting a fourth, lifting in a free kick that Eduardo headed at Gomes and then a corner that Abou Diaby nodded wide. In the dying seconds, Fábregas was still looking for another goal, displaying stamina and pace in racing 60 yards to support Sagna.
At the final whistle, Fábregas revealed his sporting side, jogging across to the vanquished, sweat-stained figure of Palacios to salute his opponent's endeavours. And Arsenal's hero hardly looked out of breath.
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