Interpreting the Cesc situation…
35 comments July 22nd, 2011
Arsenal.com announced this evening that due to a “muscular injury” Cesc Fabregas did not travel with the rest of the squad to Germany. Ostensibly, it’s a hamstring problem. I’m not usually one for conspiracy theories, but I have to say that I’m more of the mind that the injured muscle in question is his heart – torn between Arsenal and Barcelona.
Of course, Arsenal and Arsene knew that the captain’s absence from yet another leg of our pre-season would provoke speculation. That’s why they slipped the official announcement out late on a Friday evening.
Even if Cesc is injured – and I have my doubts – he could certainly travel with the squad. Many of the players have spoken about how much the trip to the Far East helped bring the group together, and the five days or so in Germany will most likely have a similarly alchemic effect.  Surely, as captain, Fabregas ought to be part of that.
The answer lies in a line that Arsene actually said in relation to Manuel Almunia and Nicklas Bendtner, who’ve also stayed at home:
“As long as the situation is not settled, we have to focus on the coming season with the players we have. The players who are uncertain, it is difficult for them to focus on being completely committed.”
That’s it, in a nutshell. Cesc won’t be welcomed in to the preparations until Arsene is confident he will be part of the squad beyond August. He’s already planning for the worst-case scenario, and preparing for life without him.
I think Arsene is prepared to lose one of Cesc or Nasri, but not both. In fact, in some respects, the very fact he won’t stand for losing two at once is what means one has to go now. Because if both stay, the chances are they’ll both leave next summer anyway. We should at least stagger it.
And I think that as things stand, the man on his way out is Cesc. There are a variety of reasons, but the main one is the fact that Arsene feels the constant speculation over his future could both destabilise the squad and damage the player’s focus. In an interview in the Far East, Arsene said the time to let a player go is when he begins “disturb the efficiency of the company”. It seems that Arsene feels that Cesc’s situation may soon start to do that.
You already know I don’t agree. If I managed Arsenal, I’d point to the end date on Cesc’s contract, tell Barca where to go, and sell Nasri to the highest bidder. But despite several applications stating all of my Football Manager 2011 achievements, I don’t manage Arsenal. And it feels very much like today’s decision for Cesc to stay behind leaves him closer to the door marked ‘Exit’ than ever before.
According to some reports, a Barca delegation was in the country today to hold talks with Arsenal. They’re also negotiating the sales of midfielders Romeu and Jeffren to Chelsea and Bolton respectively, to add some more cash to a kitty that now contains a €12m downpayment from Roma for Bojan. Little by little, Barca are edging towards an offer above the £35m threshold. And by leaving Cesc at home, Arsenal have demonstrated their increasing willingness to accept.
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Arsenal play Cologne in our next pre-season friendly, tomorrow at 2.30pm UKtime. You can watch it live on Arsenal Player.
