Cesc Fabregas Reiterates Desire To Stay In London And Become Arsenal's Steven Gerrard

Arsenal midfield playmaker and captain Francesc Fabregas has maintained the loyal stance he adopted since the first wave of transfer rumours linking him with a return to Catalunya to Barcelona became apparent.

"I am so happy here," he candidly told the Daily Mail. "And I want to continue to be part of what is happening here.

"If not I would have left when I had the opportunity, three years ago, two years ago or last year. I believe in this team and I feel we can achieve things. The boss believes in us more than anyone, and I feel I am part of it. He makes me see that as well. And I don’t want to fail here."

Fabregas, a European Championship winner with Spain, who is yet to translate international glory to club-level, compared his situation at Ashburton Grove to that of Steven Gerrard at Liverpool.

"I think you have to be grateful to those who have helped you. When Steven Gerrard had the opportunity to go somewhere else he chose to stay with the club of his life, and I don’t think he will ever regret that. He made a decision to stay and he has to believe that it was the right one.

"And he’s still young, young enough to achieve so much more. For me he is one of the best midfielders in the world. He looks like such a nice guy but he has this side to his game that comes through in important moments, when he makes an impact. Frank Lampard is a great player too, but for me I see something very special in Steven Gerrard."

Even if Fabregas were to return to Barca, he would fear not for the future of Arsenal's midfield, as the skipper highly-rates the plethora of talent bursting through the central ranks in north London.

Welsh prodigy Aaron Ramsey, who recently tormented Scotland with an exemplary display, academy graduate and technically-gifted teenager Jack Wilshere, and Fabregas' fellow national Fran Merida, have all won the praise of 'Cesc'.

He continued: "Ramsey, Wilshere, Fran Merida. They are at the level of everyone. Perhaps even better than me. They are top class. In training, phew, they are so good.

"Aaron has really developed. Physically he is bigger and more powerful, as you could see when we played Liverpool in the Carling Cup. If I go to sleep I will wake up and find him in my place. No, it is true. Wilshere will be a top player, too, and when he gets a bit older they will move him into the middle. They just need a run of games to gain confidence and they will be a big part of Arsenal’s future. A future I hope to be part of."