Wenger revels in victory over Barca bully boys

Arsene Wenger last night celebrated his victory over the Barcelona bully boys in the battle for Cesc Fabregas.

The Spanish champions have been desperate to sign the World Cup winning ­midfielder, who had told the Arsenal boss he wanted to return to his childhood club.

But Barcelona have run out of time, money and patience with Wenger’s refusal to even consider an offer for his ­skipper.

The Arsenal fans, who packed out Barnet’s small ­Underhill ground, ­displayed a banner declaring ‘Barca F*** U.’

Wenger said: “There was a lot of unnecessary talk, but now the talking is over and the story has to stop.

“We had a consistent attitude and we were always reluctant to talk about Cesc’s departure and in the end I believe that is how it finished.”

Barcelona made their ­aggressive move for Fabregas, under former president Joan Laporta, just before the World Cup began. Wenger did not blink and told his skipper (below) to go out and become a world champion and enjoy his ­summer.

He did just that and having failed to start a single game in Spain’s triumph he got a taste of what life might be like back in Barca, with Iniesta and Xavi the first choice midfielders.

From Wenger’s point of view, it was vital to show the ­Spanish armada that Arsenal would not be forced to sell their star player.

He explained: “It was very important to give that impression and that we will not sell or give in just because a club wants a player from us.

“We have shown a lot of love and care for Cesc since the start and that’s why we are very happy that the story ends like that.”

Virtually every Barcelona player has publicly urged ­Fabregas to quit London this summer and that has angered Wenger too.

He added: “It has not been pleasant to read that every day in the newspapers, but you have to live with it.”

Wenger rested all 10 of his World Cup players including Fabregas at Barnet yesterday, ahead of their pre-season training trip to Austria ­tomorrow. But he did hand a debut to Laurent Koscielny, a £10m summer signing from Lorient.

The French ­central defender lined up alongside the Belgian international Thomas ­Vermaelen.

Andrey Arshavin quickly showed the benefit of a World Cup free summer by waltzing through the Barnet defence before rounding keeper Jake Cole and clip in a cheeky finish to give the Gunners a lead in the 2nd minute.

England hopeful Jack Wilshere ­displayed some of his trickery to set up Jay Simpson for Arsenal’s second on 16 minutes, and the youngster bagged a second goal on the stroke of half time.

Wenger made 11 changes for the start of the second half, which included ­England World Cup squad reject Theo Walcott and defender Kieran Gibbs.

Nasri, surprisingly left out of France’s World Cup squad, scored Arsenal’s fourth.

Wenger later confirmed out of contract defenders William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre will be leaving but there is a chance Sol Campbell will sign a new deal at the Emirates.