Memo to Cesc Fabregas: When you're considering your future, remember Hleb and Flamini

By John Cross

Published 08:00 29/10/09

• 

Follow John Cross on Twitter

Click here to follow John Cross on Twitter

Here is a little warning to Cesc Fabregas. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Earlier this year, a letter dropped onto Arsene Wenger's doormat from Alexander Hleb, with the little midfielder admitting he made a terrible mistake and pleading for Arsenal to take him back.

Sadly for Hleb, Wenger is not a manager who likes to turn back the clock and the mercurial playmaker now finds himself back at former club Stuttgart on loan after a season spent in Barcelona's reserves.

It's been a similar story for Mathieu Flamini at AC Milan. Flamini came on as an 89th minute substitute for Milan against Real Madrid last week and was subbed at half-time in his previous Champions League game against FC Zurich.

Who has really gone on to bigger and better things since leaving Arsenal? Thierry Henry is possibly the exception to the rule but he was - and still is - a world class talent. Henry has won the Champions League with Barcelona.

But as for the rest... Emmanuel Petit regrets it, Patrick Vieira was in decline, Gilberto would like to come back to England, Marc Overmars was disappointing, Nicolas Anelka is only now fulfilling his potential at Chelsea.

The lesson here is that while big clubs may seem more attractive and pay slightly bigger wages, there's nothing like playing and enjoying your football. Arsenal play fantasy football.

The difference in earning £5,000-a-week extra may have made Ashley Cole crash his car, but you are a long time retired with a long time to enjoy a £20m fortune, rather than £25m, after a career that's ended in frustration.

Fabregas will undoubtedly have a decision to make this summer. Barcelona and Real Madrid always want the best players. And I reckon Manchester City will go all guns blazing for one of the best young midfielders in the world.

But Fabregas is captain at Arsenal, enjoying his football and, while he will return to Spain one day, let's hope he stays a good while longer. It's good for the Premier League.

Fabregas was and remains friendly with Hleb and has probably seen at close quarters just how much he regrets his move.

Maybe then Fabregas can also advise another of Arsenal's promising youngsters, Spanish teenager Fran Merida, to stay with the club and develop under one of football's great tutors rather than succumb to interest from Atletico Madrid.

Wenger has suffered disappointment in Arsenal's last two games by conceding late goals. But he has rediscovered a belief and impetus this season that was missing last year.

The Gunners are playing some brilliant football, largely orchestrated by Andrey Arshavin and Robin van Persie.

Wenger should have strengthened his squad in the summer. That's what will cost them in the title race.

Arsenal have very little quality back up in central defence and Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas will get injured at some point. Alex Song will go to the African Nations Cup. They need another centre-forward.

These are things that will come back to haunt Wenger. But the biggest weakness of all is Arsenal's lack of a top class, experienced keeper.

David Seaman and Jens Lehmann helped Arsenal win the title. Wenger appears to have taken against Manuel Almunia. The keeper is one position where you need experience. Arsenal don't have it.

That will be a major problem. Wenger really needs to win a trophy this season, no matter how much the Arsenal manager says finishing in the top four is an achievement in itself. We all appreciate that, Arsene.

But when you say that, people immediately assume it's the title-or-bust. That's not the case at all with Arsenal or Wenger.

If Arsenal finish empty handed this season, the only thing that may change is Wenger's transfer policy. He may have to accept some of his youngsters are not good enough and strengthen the squad.

Whether another potless season will be enough to persuade the likes of Fabregas to stay is another matter.

But Fabregas should remember the painful lesson learnt by his mate Hleb: the grass is not always greener on the other side.