Congratulations Cesc – Commiserations Robin
Add comment July 12th, 2010
When Cesc Fabregas entered the field of play shortly before the end of normal time, you had the sense that his role would be pivotal. He is a player made for the biggest stage – a man who seems to write his own destiny. When he went through on goal you expected him to slot past the Dutch keeper, but he was denied by an outstretched boot.
No matter. His moment would come. In the 116th minute, a perfectly weighted pass around the corner of the Dutch defence freed Andres Iniesta to fire home the crucial goal. Cesc Fabregas is a World Champion.
In the immediate aftermath of the game, Cesc dedicated the victory to Arsenal:
“All I can say is that this (World Cup victory) is for all the Arsenal players and fans, they are a world-class club. I am an Arsenal player and proud to be.”
It remains to be seen whether or not this was a parting gift. Reports of varying credibility suggest Arsene publically rebuffed Barcelona on French television last night. Last night Cesc will have tasted the joy of winning trophies alongside his Catalan pals. If he is firm in his conviction that he wants more of the same, I suspect he’ll need to change stance and go public to secure a move.
Cesc’s delight will have been matched by Robin van Persie’s despair. As the Dutch formed a Guard of Honour for the Spanish champions, Van Persie hung back, arms folded, eyes down. He’s a player of extraordinary ability whose career, due to injuries and a lack of baubles, has not yet hit the heights it should have done. Van Persie suffered from a lack of service and couldn’t make the impact on the World Cup he would have liked. I am certain his time will come – perhaps in two years, perhaps in four. Or maybe, just maybe, in the red and white of Arsenal.
So the World Cup is over and I’m already buzzing with excitement about the forthcoming Premier League season. There could be a fair amount of transfer activity over the next few weeks – many still expect Mark Schwarzer to arrive, though a deal for Joe Cole appears increasingly unlikely. There was definite interest in Cole, but I think it was sparked by fears of Cesc’s departure. As that deal drags on and on and indeed may not even take place, interest in Cole has waned. He now looks more likely to sign for our North London rivals, Spurs – or perhaps Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool.
Eduardo seems to have the option of leaving the club if he feels he needs regular first-team football, whilst the futures of Gallas, Silvestre and Campbell remain technically unresolved – although I don’t expect to see any of them on the squad sheet for next season.
Tomorrow I fly home, via Kenya once more. Can’t wait to get back to the rough, the tumble, the bread and the butter of English football.
