Cesc Fàbregas – Captain of Arsenal F.C.
Francesc “Cesc” Fàbregas i Soler (born 4 May 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder. He captains the English Premier League club Arsenal and plays for the Spanish national team.
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Personal information
Full name : Francesc Fàbregas i Soler
Date of birth : 4 May 1987 (1987-05-04) (age 22)
Place of birth : Vilassar de Mar, Spain
Height : 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Playing position : Midfielder / Captain
Club information : Arsenal F.C.
Number : 4
Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with Barcelona but was signed by Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16. Following injuries to key midfielders in the 2004–05 season, he established himself as Arsenal’s starting central midfielder and playmaker. He went on to break several of the club’s records, earning a reputation as one of the best young players for his position of his generation.
In international football, the Spaniard’s ntional career began when he represented the Under-17 side at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. As a result of his club performances, he was called up to the senior squad in 2006. He has played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2008, where he helped Spain to become eventual winners in the latter.
Captaincy
In the opening league game of 2009–10 season, Fàbregas scored a brace and managed two assists in Arsenal’s 6–1 away win against Everton. Arsenal went on to secure qualification for the Champions League by beating Celtic over two legs, but their early momentum to the season was disrupted by consecutive league game losses to Manchester United and Manchester City. The team bounced back strongly after this setback, and with Fàbregas being prolific in scoring (9 goals in all competitions) and setting up his teammates (12 assists), it went unbeaten in the next 13 games.
Source: Cesc Fàbregas, Captain of Arsenal F.C., Arsenal Midfielder, English Premier League Football Club information at wikipedia.org
Arsenal 3 – 0 Aston Villa
English Premier League News : Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas came off the bench to inspire his side to a victory over Aston Villa.
Fabregas picked himself up after being fouled by Richard Dunne and curled in a 25-yard free-kick with aplomb.
The goal came after Villa keeper Brad Friedel had denied William Gallas from point-blank range and kept out an Andrey Arshavin shot.
A first-time finish from Fabregas after a Theo Walcott pass and an Abou Diaby strike wrapped up the win for Arsenal.
Fabregas had started as a substitute because of a hamstring problem and was brought on after 57 minutes to give his side extra impetus in beating a stubborn Villa side.
The move paid off for manager Arsene Wenger but he will be concerned that his skipper aggravated his injury in sprinting on to Walcott’s ideally weighted pass and had to be replaced on 84 minutes.
However, the victory moved the Gunners to within four points of Premier League leaders Chelsea with a game in hand over their London rivals.
Villa had already beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United so far this season to show encouraging signs that they are mentally tougher and have a stronger squad to avoid the same collapse as last season in the chase for a top four place.
Their credentials for another top four assault were under the microscope at the Emirates and they were found wanting ahead of another stern test of their resolve and depth when they play Liverpool on Tuesday.
Prior to the introduction of Fabregas, the game had proved an intriguing and tight contest after Arsenal missed the chance to take an early lead with Villa caught cold.
Diaby forced his way past Stephen Warnock and laid the ball to Eduardo, who turned Dunne for a clear sight of goal only to strike a tame effort straight at keeper Friedel.
Denilson powered a 25-yard shot over the Villa goal but the visitors had heeded the warning signs and quickly raised their game.
Villa adopted the same strategy which helped them impressively beat the Gunners at the Emirates last season as they soaked up pressure and played on the counter-attack.
The pace of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor, the midfield energy of James Milner and aerial strength of Emile Heskey was key to Villa’s tactics.
But a wary Arsenal were wise to the Villa ploy and a Young strike looping over the bar after a deflection off Alexandre Song was a rare threat on their goal.
Villa’s defence was aiming for a fifth clean sheet and looked sturdy enough before they had some scares as Arsenal upped their intensity and urgency as they started to dominate.
Gallas came close for the home side when he tried to turn in an Eduardo knock-down but Friedel blocked and Carlos Cuellar cleared and Friedel again foiled Arsenal by saving an Arshavin shot.
Villa finally buckled when Dunne fouled Fabregas, who rewarded Arsenal’s pressure when he sent a free-kick over the Villa wall and into the top corner.
Armand Tarore’s sweeping pass found Walcott on the right flank and he set up Fabregas for the second as Villa found Arsenal too hot to handle.
And Diaby added the gloss to the win when he ran at a retreating Villa defence and found the bottom corner with a precise strike past the despairing dive of Friedel.
Source: English Premier League News at BBC Sports.