Arsenal

Wenger on Cesc, Cesc on Villa, Cesc on Cesc

By Matthew Day ⋅ May 14, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Exclusive: Footballing World at the Cesc Fàbregas Show

The Cesc Fàbregas Show: Nike Live was recorded in London on Tuesday evening, and included an array of special guests, interviews, competitions and entertainment.

The show, to be broadcast on Sky Sports 1 on Monday 19 May, was filmed in front of a 400-strong audience. The likes of Arsène Wenger, Philippe Senderos, Nicklas Bendtner and Paul Merson all made appearances, alongside some of Sky’s personalities such as Jeff Stelling and Chris Kamara, while Fàbregas himself was at the centre of the action.

The Spaniard competed in a Pro-Evo Soccer game with a member of the audience, answered a selection of questions and, finally, competed in a heading competition with Merson, Michael Thomas and Senderos in order to win the entire audience the new Arsenal kit, which is based on the 1988/89 season when Thomas rose to infamy.

More photos from the Cesc Fabregas Show

Cesc on Cesc

The programme was dominated by the life and development of Fàbregas, and he attributed his success to his parents - both of whom were present, along with his grandparents - and living in a small town, rather than a large city like London or Barcelona.

Born in the beautiful small town of Arenys de Mar and playing on the concrete-surrounded artificial field in Mataró, Fàbregas said he was spotted by Barcelona officials aged just 10. They then talked to his parents and a trial was organised. Aged 16, Arsène Wenger travelled to meet him in Spain and Fàbregas admitted he was taken back by the effort and words of praise from the Frenchman.

Fàbregas attributed hard work and a good temperament to his success, but was particularly thankful to Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira for helping him settle in.

Asked to reflect on his Arsenal career thus far, he said his fabulous effort against AC Milan in the Champions League this season was the most important goal he has scored, “I saw there were eight minutes left and just decided to shoot… it was important because no English team had won at San Siro before. It may have hit Adebayor on the way but it is my goal!”

He also told of one horrendous journey using London’s Tube network - the reason why his landlady handed him a Tube map to pin on his wall. Having got lost via the numerous lines, he planned on phoning roommate Senderos only to discover his mobile phone battery was dead. Having borrowed a fellow passenger’s phone, he asked the Swiss international to send a taxi - but after an hour’s wait and no cab, it was clear no one would be saving him, “I then asked a stranger for a lift, and he started asking me all sorts of questions… I said that I’m a footballer, that I had got lost and had no money.”

Eventually the questions became a little too personal for the Spaniard who admitted, “I opened the door and jumped out.” Having finally made his way home, he discovered his landlady had rung the police and that they were desperately searching for his whereabouts across North London. Hence, the tube map that hung large from his old bedroom wall.

Wenger on Cesc

Arsène Wenger was in good spirits and delivered an intriguing talk on how to snap-up young talent, affirming that “technical ability is developed between seven and 14 years of age… if you have no technique by 14, then you cannot make it as a footballer” before offering presenter Andy Goldstein a trial. Well, sort of.

“Between 14 and 17, the physical side must be developed… and the player must have the right temperament for the game… he must be right mentally,” said Wenger. He added that a prospective player missing any one of these three aspects would bear little chance of making it professionally.

Before the conclusion of the interview, Wenger lavished the praise on his young protégé Fàbregas, “I believe a midfielder reaches his peak between the ages of 25 and 30. At age 21, he is four years more advanced than most and he can certainly be the best midfielder in the world.”

Cesc on Villa

A member of the audience asked Fàbregas which player he would take from the Spain national team back from Euro 2008 to play for Arsenal. After little thought, and a lot of encouragement from the crowd, he stated with a smile, “Villa.”

Valencia striker David Villa has said recently that he sees his future elsewhere - and named Arsenal as a preferred destination. Fàbregas would relish such a move, “We are very good friends… I think Villa would be very good for Arsenal.”

The evening concluded with new Arsenal shirts being won by the entire studio audience after Fàbregas finally scored a header at the fifth attempt. And although heading is not his strongest point, his feet do more than enough of the talking on the pitch.

From left to right: Fabregas with his parents on stage; Fabregas’s mother participates in some banter with Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday; the audience awaits the introduction of Cesc Fabregas

Tags: Arsene Wenger, Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, Nike

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