By Walter Broeckx
Cesc has just had the “privilege” of spending some two months in the Spanish team during the world cup and its preparation. And in this period he has kept his mouth shut about his future and if he said something it was in fact saying nothing.
But we must keep in mind that he was sitting in the Spanish team, surrounded by Barcelona players, every day the Spanish press in his face. So he stayed very vague over his future. Saying openly that he would not go to Barcelona after the world cup could have harmed him in his world cup and would even put more pressure on him.
Before he went he said he left his future in the hands of Wenger who said he wouldn’t sell Cesc. And the club made a firm statement when Barcelona made their offers by just telling: fuck off, although possibly in nicer but also still very firm words. But the players from Barcelona and the club and the journalists kept on talking about Cesc wanting to go to Barcelona over and over again. They just couldn’t stop.
So yesterday, Carlos Puyol and Pique have done us a very big favour. Of course if you live on another planet you may wonder what I am talking about. So to help out, I will just talk you through the incident that happened when the Spanish team celebrated the world cup victory.
Pepe Reina called Cesc over and he held him in his arm. Meanwhile Puyol and Pique came behind the back of Cesc and pulled a Barcelona jersey over his head. They forced him in to it.
But Cesc refused to put his arms in the sleeves and stood there with no hands and with a face full of embarrassment. In Dutch we have an expression that goes in translation: “he was smiling like a farmer with toothache”. [That's one phrase I can't get into English - Editor]. And for those who have toothache in their lives they know that you don’t smile with whole your heart. And when Reina let Cesc go, he immediately pulled out the Barceloanus shirt and went back in the group and stayed out of the picture.
So that’s what happened. You can see it on many you tube video’s on the internet and you can see that what I described is like it happened.
Many fans, (can they really be called fans?) thought that this was the end. Cesc should be sold, should be stripped of the captaincy at least if not drowned in the Thames and hung in the Tower at noon. They think Cesc should have kicked Puyol in his b*lls, give an elbow on Pique and should have tackled Reina. And then he should have removed the Barcelona shirt, spat on it and walked away from the celebrations of becoming world champion.
He should have done this in front of a crowd of a few hundred thousand and in front of the eyes of the camera. Do you really think that someone who seems so well educated and behaves himself with dignity most of the time would do something like that? No, he wouldn’t and no one would want to disturb the party of being world champion.
When I saw the pictures I knew for sure Cesc would stay with us and would be an Arsenal player. If Cesc would have known this before he could have done this to make a statement. He could have let Puyol and Pique pull him on the Barceloanus shirt and put his arms in the sleeves. Then he would have really put it on, but Cesc refused to do this. Cesc could have put the shirt on and he could have kept it one for the rest of the party. Now THAT would have been a statement for the whole world and for Arsenal and Wenger. It could have been the same as saying to Arsenal and Wenger: I want to go. It would have been like putting in a transfer request.
BUT Cesc DID NOT PUT HIS ARMS in the sleeves and he pulled the shirt back over his head and got rid of it the moment he could do it. And in fact this was the statement that we have been waiting for all these weeks. Cesc didn’t have to speak, he acted. Just like he does on the pitch. Not words, but acts. His refusal to put on the Barcelona shirt properly was the statement for me and for those who want to see, that he is a Gunner and will be a Gunner.
I think Puyol and Pique, with Reina in the complot, had planned this long ago and their aim was to disturb us Arsenal fans. They wanted to create this outburst and some fans stepped in to the trap set up by Barcelona. Imagine that Cesc comes to Arsenal and some stupid fans boo him? He would feel hurt deep in his heart. He turned away from the Barcelona shirt, and believe me this is nothing you do lightly if you are from Barcelona, and let us know that he will not leave.
So if we want to help Barcelona and drive Cesc out of Arsenal we just should go on with blaming our captain for this incident. And then we will get what Barcelona wants to happen: Cesc leaving on the cheap.
I think it is time to use our heads on this. We all know that Cesc will be leaving for Barcelona one day. But the only way we can keep him here is by giving him all the love we can give. We shouldn’t condemn him for wanting to go home one day in his career. No this is just a normal thing in live. We should be happy for every game that he plays in our shirt from now on. We should cherish every game he leads out the team AS A CAPTAIN, and cheer him like we never have done before.
His name should be sung out loud whenever he is giving his all for The Arsenal. We have chased away the child that is Adebayor. We express our feelings quite rightly to the idiot Cole. But Cesc will not go for money to Barcelona, he will be going to be at home. Because he loves Barcelona because he is born there. Like people from London love London, like I love my place of birth and like most of us love their place of birth or where we grew up.
So let us get behind Cesc, give him all the love he can get from the fans. After all we are the ones that maybe cannot keep him at Arsenal for the rest of his career, but we could chase him away and this would be the worst move ever made by “fans” of this club. And don’t let us step in the trap set up by Barceloanus. We Gooners should be smarter than that.
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Over on Woolwich Arsenal: the Arsenal captain with over 300 games as a full back to his credit, who took over the management of the club when our most famous manager died and who devoted almost all his working life to Arsenal.
Back on Untold Arsenal: Who will go down next season? Billy the Dog fights his way past the guards to reveal everything. Well almost.
And there’s a new book on the way: Woolwich Arsenal – the Complete History. Can’t tell you everything because it is still being written, but the first Woolwich book, “Making the Arsenal” (once described as ‘historical fiction on acid’) is now in its second edition.
Or you can always go home
The reality is that we will only know where he will be on September 1st or a date close by if that is not the close of the transfer window.
1. Let us suppose Cesc and Arsene had done a deal: you keep quiet, we get the best price we can for you. What would happen to the price if he put his arms in a Barca shirt? Well, it wouldn’t be going Arsenal’s way, that’s for sure. So Fabregas, no matter what he wants (and that is between him and Arsenal FC) WOULD BE AN IDIOT NOT TO DO WHAT HE DID. I think the past 5 years show fairly clearly that he is not an idiot…….
2. Let us suppose that the King of Spain is a Real supporter ( I think he is, but I doubt that matters that much): do you think it would be dignified to make such a partisan show of club colours in front of the king on the day of the greatest triumph for the national team in the history of Spain? I doubt it……..
3. Let us suppose that Cesc Fabregas is a committed passionate guy in all that he does in football. Do you think on a night of great celebration for the national side, in which he played a part, but not the main part, that he should be drawing undue attention to himself when Iniesta, Xabi, Casillas, Puyol et all should be in the limelight? I doubt it……..
I don’t think anything should be read into this, just like anything else this summer.
I hope Fabregas stays at Arsenal, but I don’t think much is to be gained by speculating on what might be, when we really don’t know what is going on……….
Its a pity you do not write for some of those thrash tabloids out there printing the opposite in the london winding the fans up.
Great article couldnt agree more.
Well, could not agree more, Arsenal have rejected the offer ! and said don’t contact us anymore, he’s not for sale. Cesc Has never put in a transfer request,but the thing is why do we, as a club and as fans, have to put keep putting up with this sort of thing, it’s not new – Anelka,Viera,Overmars,Henry,Helb and now Cesc. If you think we hate spurs & man utd how about,WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BARCA,SHIT,WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SHIT,BARCA,that certainly would make the board think, and it might just even kick their arses into gear, to complain to uefa about their conduct !!! oh and by the way, what perfect timing, liverpool away 1st game, Mr Reina’s reception,when he approachs the traveling Arsenal support !! i hope he gets it big time.
Cheers 4 now everybody Roy.T….
I am delighted to read your view here. Well done. I agree too. Cesc’s DNA is Arsenal given he has now lived 7 years of his 23 at Arsenal.
You know what, this article needs to go everywhere.
Absolutely top-notch.
Someone in the comment sectoin raised the question: why did Cesc not say he will not go to Barcelona.
I think the answer could be found in the fact that he, Wenger, Barcelona and every clever Arsenal fan out there knows he will be going to them one day.
So he cannot say “fuck off Barca” for various reasons:
- It is “his” club so he has nothing against them
- If he would say this, the Barca fans would not be happy about it once he goes there and he could have a difficult start by this.
- It would make him look like a fool when he first tells he wil not go and then later does go.
- It could make live more difficult for him being in the world cup with all those Barca players.
And maybe you can find other reasons as there are.
So Cesc can never say he doesn’t want to go to Barcelona as he will be going one day.
But he will only be going the day that Wenger thinks he can let him go without harming Arsenal.
The thing about the father of Cesc could have something to do with the fact that his father lives in Catalunya and is a Barcelona fan. I think it is obvious that every father wants to see his kid play in the shirt of his favourite team. It would make him (Father Cesc) a big and important man in Barcelona.
And maybe his father is tired of flying to London to see his son play? Who knows.
And maybe the Barcelona directors have promised him big things to help Barcelona getting Cesc coming home? Who knows? I do think and believe that Barcelona is ready to do anything, including the dirtiest tricks. This article is about one that we could see in the open but who knows hom many tricks haven been done behind closed doors?
And remember Cesc saying, this season: ‘If I would leave now and won nothing it would be like a failure to me. I don’t want to fail.”
So in fact I only will start to worry when we win the league last year and Barca has not won the league in Spain thanks to Mourinho. Because that would mean Cesc could regard his mission accomplished in Arsenal and Barcelona would lend what ever money they need to get Cesc back in order to win the PL.
edit my last post : So in fact I only will start to worry when we win the league NEXT year and Barca has not won the league in Spain thanks to Mourinho.
And thank you for your reactions.
Well argued post, Walter. Barcelona is very clever in using the tactics learned from Sun Tzu to “create confusion in the enemy’s camp”. Some Arsenal fans obviously have been a bit over excited by recent events but I am sure Wenger & the Arsenal Board can see through all of this, and you too, Walter. Cesc will play for Arsenal in the coming season, and maybe even the next if we win a major trophy or two. Then he will go back to Barcelona – the land where he was born, and to the team many Spanish players hope to play for one day. That is not an unreasonable wish and outcome in my view.
*sighs* “He didn’t put his arms through the sleeves” it is pathetic Walter and you know it.
Walter- Thats a tough assumption that you have made. Dont expect Cesc to stay bcoz he hasn’t won anything till now for arsenal. If that was the case then he would hav never voiced his opinion about moving to barcelona.
I think what walter is trying to stay that despite the fact cesc will be leaving one day, he still act accordingly by not making any frivolous statement that will provoke us arsenal supporters
to boo him should he decide to stay. That will give us some chance to persuade him to stay. I mean, if barcelona players and president are trying to pull him out of AFC, shouldn’t we fans act in the contrary of it ? He is afterall, still our captain at the moment. “Cesc didn’t put his arms through the sleeves” won’t give any concrete proof that he indeed will stay. But i think it’s enough to let us know that our captain have better respect to AFC, and not the catalonia club, in the present ..
I wish this will be relayed to those come to the Ems when Fab4 is playing. otherwise, it would turn really bad for him
Well said mate, Cesc has always behaved in a great manner throughout this courting by Barca and any “gooner” that blames Cesc for this incident should really think about what being a gooner actually means. Barcelona know they cannot afford the price tag (at the moment) we have slapped on Cesc so they are using their own players to ‘tap him up’ – something which they cannot be punished for officially. I still do think Arsenal have a good case against Barca for a tapping up allegation and I think it makes the club look slightly weak by not doing so but Arsene has said all that needs to be said – He is not for sale! So unless they can cough up the fee we’re looking for, I would count on Cesc being an Arsenal player next season. Anyone that doubts the lad’s commitment to the club needn’t worry, he will not be stripped of the captaincy if he stays and I’d put money on him giving 110% for us as he always has done.
Well barca has “pooed in the drawer” on this one. With all the fuss they have created this summer, all the have achived is the certainty that Arsenal will NEVER sell ces to them this year and maybe not even sell him next sumemr. If they had behaved properly this summer and come with a decent bid they may have gotten what they want. Now they put Arsenal in a position where it is impossible for them to sell withouth loosing faec and loosing credibility among their fans. I just cannot see Arsenal selling cesc this year and keep their dignity at the same time.
Barca has with their behavior forced Arsenal to make an example!
How utterly stupid is that?? What kind of advisors does cesc and barca have on the buisness side? Nobody in their wildest dreams would act like barca if they want a prized asset on sale! It just makes no sense what so ever.
I mean really, if you want to buy a car, a really nice car, you cannot afford it but still want it, you do not go up to the salesman, humiliate him and diss him! You do not send your entire family to speak to him to tell him ” you cannot hold on tho this car forever man! mr. Barca desrves it, and the car deserves to be at barca! so sell, i wont be held randsome! i want the car but cannot afford it! so sell it to me at my price you are nothing while i am a huge important man with lots of cash!”
I mean, who would ever sell something to a person like that?
And why is Barcelona so stupid in ther tactics in the first place? its a shame for both barca and Cesc. they could have had him this summer if they just offered enough money and treted Arsenal with respect. No they are about to burn all bridges, and their prized target is still in Arsenal.
Rhys:
While it is true that the King of Spain is a Real Mad supporter, the Queen of England apparently told Lord Wenger when they met that she is an Arsenal fan.
This blog is outstanding. I now look forward to reading the latest insight on Untold Arsenal. I can’t say this about any other Blog.
Thank you Walter for a stellar article today.
a) He didn’t exactly play 90 minutes with a broken foot did he? He played the last 10 or so minutesb) Its not exactly a statement of loyalty is it? Sounds the opposite to me. Oh and remember he said this after he had put in a transfer request.c) Was he saying goodbye?d) What he actually said was “Im really proud to have been an Arsenal player”. He spoke in the past tense, so Im not sure where you got that quote from.e) eer how did you work that out. He’s put in a transfer request so he can go back. How is he showing us respect?f) hasn’t come out since the season ended and said he doesnt like the way they are touting him though has he.RED AND WHITE OF ARSENAL IN HIS BLOOD….you are taking the piss yeah?
….countless times arsenal has broken my heart over th last few years…comin close to scoring n missing
comin close to winning and not actually winning
comin close to signing sm1 but nt actually signing
I jus dnt want to be too heart broken if we come close to keeping our beloved captain then failing to!!!!!!!
Intresting to see that at this time in the Dutch press there are reports (I know we have to be carefull with “reports” but they do are a bit different from what we read in the English press and blogs. So I just give it to you and translate it in English.
Fabregas remains calm and is only thinking about Arsenal.
Cesc is enjoying a well deserved holliday but he still is on Spanish soil, and journalists are hunting him with questions about a possible transfer to Barcelona.
So again after a by Cesc given trainingsession for the youth of an amateur blub the journalists were out in numbers. But the worldchampion remained very cool when it came to the rumours and let them now that he was only thinking about Arsenal.
“The less we talk about Barcelona the better” said the captain from Arsenal against the Spanish press.
About the incidient with the shirt when the Spanish team was celebrating the world title Cesc said: ” I was deeply ashamed, but I hope that Arsenal can have understanding for the situation I was finding myself in.”
So I think this is somewhat a different picture that you can get when you look at media from countries that are not belonging to the English and Spanish press.
Perhaps more importantly then ‘not putting his arms in’ – if you watch the footage he actually tries to take it off the second he realises what it is. That’s when Reina grabs him to prevent it and Cesc gives up to just wait for an opportunity to take it off without fighting. Since it’s supposed to be a party and all, and these are his friends.
People who think this prank (or not telling the Spanish press that he doesn’t want to go to Barcelona) means he wants out or is disloyal are not worth the effort of trying to reason with. Anyone who is capable of reason will be expecting Cesc to lead us again last season adn will cheer him as he does.
it’s always nice to read some optimistic view..thanks a lot walter
as for cesc,
maybe he will leave us this summer..maybe he WILL NOT..one thing for sure is RIGHT NOW he is still an Arsenal’s player and as a GOONERS I think we have to SUPPORT all of Arsenal Players..