After Arsenal's victory over AZ, Koeman praises Cesc

Dutch coach Ronaldo Koeman is convinced that Cesc Fabregas is one of the best players in the world. His superb performance in the 4-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar proves him right.

The popular Cesc netted twice to virtually assure Arsenal a place in the knockout stages and AZ boss Koeman was impressed.

Koeman kowns that Cesc was the main reason for the result. "He is a fantastic player. Fabregas was involved in nearly everything - but they have many footballers who really don't need many chances to score."

Koeman also talked about Arsenal chances in the future: "They are a fantastic team with lots of quality and make many chances, but they are also a very young team and they maybe lack the experience that say Chelsea and Barcelona have when it comes to the latter stages. But that does not mean they can't go a long way in the competition because in knockout it's very close and it's just two games. To me, they are serious candidates."

Cesc Fabregas praised by fans, team mates and Wenger as well

Cesc Fabregas has been voted as PFA Fans' Player of the Month, boosting his popularity and enlightening the moment he is living right now. The Arsenal Captain is recognized by fans, players and coaches as one of the best footballers in the world.

The talented catalan midfielder is the pilot of an Arsenal squad that many believe play the best, most attractive football of any side in the country. It's just that Cesc has the ability and vision to get himself on the end of most collective moves of his team.

Coach Wenger said of him that "he's a bit like Lampard in that he wants to structure the game. Cesc likes to be at the start of things and then get on the end of things, and he can push forward more this season because he has two players around him who can defend."

Also teammate Teo Walcott praises Cesc: "He is fantastic to play with because he spots everything on the pitch and times his passes to perfection, so that you don't even need to break stride.

"He is still really young and, as captain, has a lot of pressure on his shoulders yet he continues to deliver. He truly is a fantastic person to learn from. I can't believe he is only 22."

Spain beat Armenia: Cesc and Mata scored for the European Champions

It was not easy at all for the European Champions. The talented Juanma Mata netted a 64th-minute penalty to give Del Bosque's squad a 2-1 triumph over Armenia to stay unbeaten in World Cup qualifying.

Mata, a very fast striker and one of the most interesting players in the Spanish team, slotted a left-footed shot past Roman Berezovsky after the goalkeeper had been booked for taking Mata down.

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas gave Spain the lead in the 33rd minute after receiving a pass from Xavi Hernandez and chipping the ball over Berezovsky. But Robert Arzumanyan equalized from a header in the 58th and unleashed the enthusiasm of their fans. But Mata scored the winner goal 5 minutes later.

The powerful Spain is already in the final stage of the World Cup, and has 27 points in Group 5 after its ninth straight victory.

PD: Cesc might play for Barcelona next season.

Barcelona: "I want Cesc"

Official voices within the Camp Nou have admitted that Barcelona will make a move to sign up Cesc Fabregas. With Guardiola's team set to be without midfielders Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita when the African Cup of Nations begin in January, the institution is ready to take action and enhance their squad.

Sporting director Txiki Begiristain says that Cesc "is a player who fits the Barca profile. He was born suckling on football here and one day he will end up playing at the Camp Nou. I am sure."

Even when Arsenal FC board have not made any official statement about this transfer, it's very likely that next season we will see the first chapter of a new soap opera called "I want Cesc".

PD: Cesc doesn't care about this kind of statementes and just focuses on his game. That's why he scored in Spain's victory over Armenia.

Cesc: Arsenal still in the race for the Premiership Title

Arsenal most talented player Cesc Fabregas has refused to throw in the towel in this season's Premier League title race.

Indeed, many fans have dismissed the Gunners' chances of ending a five-year league trophy drought as Arsene Wenger's side sit 10 points behind leaders Manchester United, having also played a game more than the defending champions.

But the popular Cesc - who is expected to return from his knee injury against Manchester City next Saturday - has not given up hope and has set overhauling third-placed Chelsea as the first target.

The Gunners captain recognises that an assault on top spot would be a shock, but he feels that a 100 per cent conclusion to Arsenal's campaign would make anything possible.

Cesc attended the launch of his new 'Campus Cesc' soccer school near Barcelona, and spoke about this subject: "I believe in miracles. It has happened before in football so why not this year?

"I know, though, that it is going to be difficult. Right now we have to think about catching Chelsea and then we will think about the others.

"But what we must think about is winning the eight games we have remaining."

Fabregas, who has been sidelined since sustaining his injury before Christmas, is also looking forward to linking up with January arrival Andrey Arshavin.

"You can see he (Arshavin) is a special player and when he plays everyone expects him to do something," added the 21-year-old. "We are very happy to have this guy. And it is a shame he cannot play in the Champions League, but I am sure he can have a very big impact until the end of the season."

PD: After a recovering from a 4-month injury, it's never easy to accept that you will not win title.

Cesc heals and gets ready for his return

Cesc Fabregas young age is helping him to get closer to recovery from a serious knee injury. He hopes to resume training with a ball in 10 days.

Indeed, the 21-year-old player has returned to England from Spain for the final stage of his rehabilitation program and he will be in the crowd at Emirates Stadium for Monday night's FA Cup replay against Cardiff.

"From this week ... I will be back at the team, in the dressing room and around my sidemates, and I will see them going out to training, travelling to the games and that will make me jealous.

"It will give me more desire to get fit as quickly as possible so I can be in the side again," Cesc Fabregas expressed. "Over the last few weeks I have only thought of my injury, and in despite of that, now it's time for me to come back to the side. I am the captain and I have responsibilities - I have to be next to my sidemates even if I'm not playing."

Cesc Fabregas aims for a quick recovery

The Spanish midfielder sustained ligament damage in a challenge with compatriot Xabi Alonso back in December, and had been expected to face nearly four months on the sidelines.

But after the latest tests on the injury proved positive, Fabregas is now looking to aid Arsenal's ailing title hopes by making a quick return.

"In fact, my leg is getting stronger and the doctors tell me that the ligament has healed," Fabregas wrote in his programme notes ahead of the game against West Ham.

"I will take it step by step, but hopefully I can come back earlier than first expected. However, let's wait and see.

"It's true that now it is about building up the muscle and on Thursday I had a very little jog for the first time, so it is great news and I am happy because I can see a big improvement.

"I will be coming back to England in two weeks' time and, after being assessed by the physios, we will set a target date for my return."

Cesc out for 4 months due to knee ligament rupture

It's sad to say that Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger confirmed on Tuesday that Gunners captain Francesc Fabregas will be out of action for four months after suffering a partial rupture of his medial knee ligament in Sunday's draw against Liverpool.

The talented Fabregas suffered the injury in a challenge with Liverpool's Xabi Alonso and limped off at half time at the Emirates Stadium.

The popular Wenger initially hoped Fabregas would only be out for three weeks but scans confirmed the Spain midfielder won't play again before April.

"The news is not good," Wenger admitted. "It will take three to four months, we count four. He will be working hard to come back earlier but I count four months.

"The challenge by Alonso was fair and honest, I have no problem with it. It is exactly what I have said many times, it is the kind of thing you accept in the game that can happen. I don't feel there was any intention to hurt, it was purely accidental."

We must notice that the loss of his recently installed skipper and creative talisman is a massive blow to Wenger as he tries to end Arsenal's four-year wait for a trophy.

He was already short of experienced midfielders after losing Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva and Alexander Hleb in pre-season, while Tomas Rosicky has been injured for the whole of the current campaign.

"We will miss him, of course, but how much is difficult to say," Wenger said. "We have to find a way and we want to find a way to compensate the fact that he is not on the pitch to give everyone a bit more.

"I'm sure we can deal with it. When he comes back he can help us get over the line in the final months. I believe we are able to do it."

In fact, Wenger team will face a crucial match at Aston Villa on Friday, and conceded Fabregas's injury may force him to move into the transfer market in January.

"It is more likely but we also have internal solutions and we are not desperate," he said. "At the moment no one is going out and no one is coming in. That gives you a perfect answer.

"Now we have a big game in front of us and before January anyway I believe it is more important to focus on our games."

A bid for Zenit St Peterburg's Russian midfielder Andrei Arshavin is one possibility for Wenger, who is yet to decide who will replace Fabregas as captain.

The experienced Spanish keeper Manuel Almunia wore the armband when Fabregas came off against Liverpool and would be the leading candidate.

"I think that it is a great opportunity to show we can deal with it and have strength," said Wenger, who played down talk of a Manchester City bid for Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure.

Spain crushed Chile and finished the best year of their history

Cesc Fabregas took part of the whole match, but the real stars were David Villa, Fernando Torres and Santi Cazorla. They scored for Spain to beat Chile 3-0 in a friendly on Wednesday and cap the European champion's greatest season.

Indeed, top-ranked Spain extended its two-year unbeaten streak to 28 matches. It also stayed unbeaten against Chile, winning six out of seven matches.

The talented Villa's 37th-minute penalty saw him become the first Spanish player to score in five straight games and take his international tally to 24 goals from 41 appearances, surpassing Alfredo di Stefano to move to fifth in Spain's all-time scoring list.

Fernando Torres used a quick move in the 67th to get free and score with a low shot. Cazorla then found the net with a deflected shot that skipped past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in the 86th.

"The philosophy stays the same: we play well and keep scoring goals," Cazorla said after scoring his first international goal at El Madrigal stadium, where he plays club football for Villarreal FC.

The "Red Fury", which beat Germany at Euro 2008 in June to lift its first major trophy for 44 years, hasn't lost since Nov. 15, 2006 — a 1-0 defeat to Romania.

"They made us uncomfortable but Spain played well," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. "I think we showed proof of our capabilities."

And Vicente Del Bosque knows the power of his team. That's why he used a 4-4-1-1 formation as Spain took control for the opening 15 minutes, with Bravo stopping a shot by Villa after 74 seconds.

Spain's traditonally slick passing was on display but its domination of possession provided few chances, with Villa well marked by Chile's defense as regular strike partner Torres watched from the bench.

It was the scrappy Chileans who nearly broke the deadlock in the 18th. Matias Fernandez' backheel sent Fabian Orellana into the area with only goalkeeper Iker Casillas to beat, but the Audax Italiano striker sent the ball just wide of the right post.

Iker Casillas caught Humberto Suazo's shot in the 22nd after positioning himself well as Fernandez, playing on his club's home ground, orchestrated play from the middle.

"We had excellent chances to attack and for that I don't feel I need to modify the team," Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa expressed. "The run of play wasn't so disagreeable to us except that Spain showed a forcefulness that we lacked from a similar amount of chances."

Spain's Albert Riera broke into the area in the 36th and stumbled to the ground after a challenge by Rodrigo Tello but, although there appeared to be little contact, a penalty was awarded. Villa easily beat Bravo from the spot.

Villa nearly made it 25 goals when his hard drive hit the bar to close out the half.

Second-half substitute Cazorla hit a first-time curling shot past Bravo in the 63rd but it just missed going in at the far post as Spain was able to open up the play.

The popular "Niño" Torres, who replaced Villa in the 57th, cut back to shake his marker on the right side and beat Bravo with a left-footed shot for his 18th goal in 58 appearances.

Keeper Pepe Reina, who came on at halftime for the magnificent Casillas, saved Suazo's header with one hand in the 58th. Alexis Sanchez shot wide from long range moments later, but it was as close as Chile would get.

"With the five or six occasions on goal we had, if we could have scored one we would have cut the difference," Bielsa admitted.

Athletic Bilbao frontmanr Fernando Llorente came on for Xavi in the 72nd to become the fifth Spanish player to debut under Vicente Del Bosque, who stretched his winning streak to six games since taking over from Luis Aragones.

In fact, Cazorla showed how dangerous Spain's bench was in the 86th after running onto a loose ball to fire a long-range shot beyond Bravo.

"It was an excellent display by our bench," said Del Bosque, who has led Spain to the top of its World Cup qualifying group with a perfect record from four games.

It's important to say that it was Spain's first international at Villarreal's home ground since its 9-0 win over San Marino in 1999 in qualifying for the European Championship.


Team lineups:

Spain: Iker Casillas (Pepe Reina, 46), Raul Albiol, Joan Capdevila, Carles Puyol (Carlos Marchena, 46), Sergio Ramos (Alvaro Arbeloa, 61), Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera, Marcos Senna (Santi Cazorla, 46), Cesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez (Fernando Llorente, 72), David Villa (Fernando Torres, 57).

Chile: Claudio Bravo, Cristian Alvarez, Ismael Fuentes, Waldo Ponce, Carlos Carmona, Rodrigo Tello, Mauricio Isla, Matias Fernandez, Alexis Sanchez, Fabian Orellana, Humberto Suazo (Jorge Valdivia, 87).

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