Cesc to return against West Ham

The talented Francesc Fabregas has been out since March 6, but good news arrived at the Emirates Stadium: he will be back for the clash against West Ham United on Saturday.

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger told the press that "Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky have a final test tomorrow morning. They should be available for our game against West Ham."

The Spanish midfielder will undergo a final fitness test tomorrow morning, however, William Gallas - another injured star - is unlikely to join him on Saturday's match.

Rumours in the last days assured that Juventus is after Cesc, but he claims to be focused only in his recovery and in Arsenal's campaign this season of the Premier League.

Cesc Fabregas praised by fans, team mates and Wenger as well

Cesc Fabregas has been voted as PFA Fans' Player of the Month, boosting his popularity and enlightening the moment he is living right now. The Arsenal Captain is recognized by fans, players and coaches as one of the best footballers in the world.

The talented catalan midfielder is the pilot of an Arsenal squad that many believe play the best, most attractive football of any side in the country. It's just that Cesc has the ability and vision to get himself on the end of most collective moves of his team.

Coach Wenger said of him that "he's a bit like Lampard in that he wants to structure the game. Cesc likes to be at the start of things and then get on the end of things, and he can push forward more this season because he has two players around him who can defend."

Also teammate Teo Walcott praises Cesc: "He is fantastic to play with because he spots everything on the pitch and times his passes to perfection, so that you don't even need to break stride.

"He is still really young and, as captain, has a lot of pressure on his shoulders yet he continues to deliver. He truly is a fantastic person to learn from. I can't believe he is only 22."

Cesc out for 4 months due to knee ligament rupture

It's sad to say that Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger confirmed on Tuesday that Gunners captain Francesc Fabregas will be out of action for four months after suffering a partial rupture of his medial knee ligament in Sunday's draw against Liverpool.

The talented Fabregas suffered the injury in a challenge with Liverpool's Xabi Alonso and limped off at half time at the Emirates Stadium.

The popular Wenger initially hoped Fabregas would only be out for three weeks but scans confirmed the Spain midfielder won't play again before April.

"The news is not good," Wenger admitted. "It will take three to four months, we count four. He will be working hard to come back earlier but I count four months.

"The challenge by Alonso was fair and honest, I have no problem with it. It is exactly what I have said many times, it is the kind of thing you accept in the game that can happen. I don't feel there was any intention to hurt, it was purely accidental."

We must notice that the loss of his recently installed skipper and creative talisman is a massive blow to Wenger as he tries to end Arsenal's four-year wait for a trophy.

He was already short of experienced midfielders after losing Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva and Alexander Hleb in pre-season, while Tomas Rosicky has been injured for the whole of the current campaign.

"We will miss him, of course, but how much is difficult to say," Wenger said. "We have to find a way and we want to find a way to compensate the fact that he is not on the pitch to give everyone a bit more.

"I'm sure we can deal with it. When he comes back he can help us get over the line in the final months. I believe we are able to do it."

In fact, Wenger team will face a crucial match at Aston Villa on Friday, and conceded Fabregas's injury may force him to move into the transfer market in January.

"It is more likely but we also have internal solutions and we are not desperate," he said. "At the moment no one is going out and no one is coming in. That gives you a perfect answer.

"Now we have a big game in front of us and before January anyway I believe it is more important to focus on our games."

A bid for Zenit St Peterburg's Russian midfielder Andrei Arshavin is one possibility for Wenger, who is yet to decide who will replace Fabregas as captain.

The experienced Spanish keeper Manuel Almunia wore the armband when Fabregas came off against Liverpool and would be the leading candidate.

"I think that it is a great opportunity to show we can deal with it and have strength," said Wenger, who played down talk of a Manchester City bid for Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure.