Latest on Fabregas

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has been linked with Barcelona since this transfer window opened. It seems likes the Spanish star would like to return to Barca, where he he progressed through the youth academy. Arsene Wenger wants Cesc to stay in North London and help the Gunners arise to the top of the table. Arsenal has turned down lucrative sums to keep Fabregas, but a decision must be made by the player himself.

Wenger believes that Cesc will continue to play for Arsenal, but he believes Fabregas has to put an end to the Barca rumors. ''In the last six months, this story has made our lives difficult,'' Wenger said. ''At the moment, what is important is that when Cesc comes back, that he comes out. For me, I have nothing more to add.

"I cannot master what is written in the newspapers, I can only master our decisions. Cesc has five years to go [on his contract] and that's it. ''The speculation does not stop - who can stop the speculation? Only Cesc, that is how I feel. We cannot go into a season where every day you read about that. He has not played today, we have just played a football game and I sit here speaking about Fabregas.

"Barcelona have given up for a long time. I told you yesterday that what will happen is that Fabregas will stay here.''

Arsenal have already turned down 30£ million for Fabregas, and clearly Wenger is annoyed at his skipper for not finally denouncing these rumors and committing to Arsenal. If Fabregas chooses to force his way out of the club, the Gunners will be left with a huge hole to fill before the season begins.

Lionel Messi and Carlos Puyol, Barca players and teammates of Cesc on the Spanish national team, believe that Cesc will be playing in Camp Nou soon enough.

"I hope that the matter can be resolved soon," Messi said. "and I'm confident that in the end it will be resolved in the way that Cesc can be a Barcelona player."

While fellow Arsenal midfielder Denilson believes that ultimately Fabregas will decide to stay with the team. He believes that Cesc is happy in England, despite what those in Spain have said.

Denilson: "The problem is that because everyone [there] keeps saying, 'Oh, Cesc wants to go, Cesc wants to go', then everyone here also starts to think, 'Oh, Cesc wants to go'. I believe in Cesc Fabregas and this season he will be here to help us.

"We need him. He is our captain and he will help us a great amount this season. I haven't had a chance to catch up with him as he has been on his holidays, but we are expecting him this week and I will see him again in training."

Arsenal title hopes may reside with the decision Fabregas makes. He is the captain and key playmaker on the team. If he goes to Barca, Cesc will play but will have stiff competition in the stacked midfield. With less than two weeks until Arsenal open up against Liverpool, we will all await his decision.