Cesc: Arsenal still in the race for the Premiership Title

Arsenal most talented player Cesc Fabregas has refused to throw in the towel in this season's Premier League title race.

Indeed, many fans have dismissed the Gunners' chances of ending a five-year league trophy drought as Arsene Wenger's side sit 10 points behind leaders Manchester United, having also played a game more than the defending champions.

But the popular Cesc - who is expected to return from his knee injury against Manchester City next Saturday - has not given up hope and has set overhauling third-placed Chelsea as the first target.

The Gunners captain recognises that an assault on top spot would be a shock, but he feels that a 100 per cent conclusion to Arsenal's campaign would make anything possible.

Cesc attended the launch of his new 'Campus Cesc' soccer school near Barcelona, and spoke about this subject: "I believe in miracles. It has happened before in football so why not this year?

"I know, though, that it is going to be difficult. Right now we have to think about catching Chelsea and then we will think about the others.

"But what we must think about is winning the eight games we have remaining."

Fabregas, who has been sidelined since sustaining his injury before Christmas, is also looking forward to linking up with January arrival Andrey Arshavin.

"You can see he (Arshavin) is a special player and when he plays everyone expects him to do something," added the 21-year-old. "We are very happy to have this guy. And it is a shame he cannot play in the Champions League, but I am sure he can have a very big impact until the end of the season."

PD: After a recovering from a 4-month injury, it's never easy to accept that you will not win title.

Cesc heals and gets ready for his return

Cesc Fabregas young age is helping him to get closer to recovery from a serious knee injury. He hopes to resume training with a ball in 10 days.

Indeed, the 21-year-old player has returned to England from Spain for the final stage of his rehabilitation program and he will be in the crowd at Emirates Stadium for Monday night's FA Cup replay against Cardiff.

"From this week ... I will be back at the team, in the dressing room and around my sidemates, and I will see them going out to training, travelling to the games and that will make me jealous.

"It will give me more desire to get fit as quickly as possible so I can be in the side again," Cesc Fabregas expressed. "Over the last few weeks I have only thought of my injury, and in despite of that, now it's time for me to come back to the side. I am the captain and I have responsibilities - I have to be next to my sidemates even if I'm not playing."

Spain crushed Chile and finished the best year of their history

Cesc Fabregas took part of the whole match, but the real stars were David Villa, Fernando Torres and Santi Cazorla. They scored for Spain to beat Chile 3-0 in a friendly on Wednesday and cap the European champion's greatest season.

Indeed, top-ranked Spain extended its two-year unbeaten streak to 28 matches. It also stayed unbeaten against Chile, winning six out of seven matches.

The talented Villa's 37th-minute penalty saw him become the first Spanish player to score in five straight games and take his international tally to 24 goals from 41 appearances, surpassing Alfredo di Stefano to move to fifth in Spain's all-time scoring list.

Fernando Torres used a quick move in the 67th to get free and score with a low shot. Cazorla then found the net with a deflected shot that skipped past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in the 86th.

"The philosophy stays the same: we play well and keep scoring goals," Cazorla said after scoring his first international goal at El Madrigal stadium, where he plays club football for Villarreal FC.

The "Red Fury", which beat Germany at Euro 2008 in June to lift its first major trophy for 44 years, hasn't lost since Nov. 15, 2006 — a 1-0 defeat to Romania.

"They made us uncomfortable but Spain played well," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. "I think we showed proof of our capabilities."

And Vicente Del Bosque knows the power of his team. That's why he used a 4-4-1-1 formation as Spain took control for the opening 15 minutes, with Bravo stopping a shot by Villa after 74 seconds.

Spain's traditonally slick passing was on display but its domination of possession provided few chances, with Villa well marked by Chile's defense as regular strike partner Torres watched from the bench.

It was the scrappy Chileans who nearly broke the deadlock in the 18th. Matias Fernandez' backheel sent Fabian Orellana into the area with only goalkeeper Iker Casillas to beat, but the Audax Italiano striker sent the ball just wide of the right post.

Iker Casillas caught Humberto Suazo's shot in the 22nd after positioning himself well as Fernandez, playing on his club's home ground, orchestrated play from the middle.

"We had excellent chances to attack and for that I don't feel I need to modify the team," Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa expressed. "The run of play wasn't so disagreeable to us except that Spain showed a forcefulness that we lacked from a similar amount of chances."

Spain's Albert Riera broke into the area in the 36th and stumbled to the ground after a challenge by Rodrigo Tello but, although there appeared to be little contact, a penalty was awarded. Villa easily beat Bravo from the spot.

Villa nearly made it 25 goals when his hard drive hit the bar to close out the half.

Second-half substitute Cazorla hit a first-time curling shot past Bravo in the 63rd but it just missed going in at the far post as Spain was able to open up the play.

The popular "Niño" Torres, who replaced Villa in the 57th, cut back to shake his marker on the right side and beat Bravo with a left-footed shot for his 18th goal in 58 appearances.

Keeper Pepe Reina, who came on at halftime for the magnificent Casillas, saved Suazo's header with one hand in the 58th. Alexis Sanchez shot wide from long range moments later, but it was as close as Chile would get.

"With the five or six occasions on goal we had, if we could have scored one we would have cut the difference," Bielsa admitted.

Athletic Bilbao frontmanr Fernando Llorente came on for Xavi in the 72nd to become the fifth Spanish player to debut under Vicente Del Bosque, who stretched his winning streak to six games since taking over from Luis Aragones.

In fact, Cazorla showed how dangerous Spain's bench was in the 86th after running onto a loose ball to fire a long-range shot beyond Bravo.

"It was an excellent display by our bench," said Del Bosque, who has led Spain to the top of its World Cup qualifying group with a perfect record from four games.

It's important to say that it was Spain's first international at Villarreal's home ground since its 9-0 win over San Marino in 1999 in qualifying for the European Championship.


Team lineups:

Spain: Iker Casillas (Pepe Reina, 46), Raul Albiol, Joan Capdevila, Carles Puyol (Carlos Marchena, 46), Sergio Ramos (Alvaro Arbeloa, 61), Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera, Marcos Senna (Santi Cazorla, 46), Cesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez (Fernando Llorente, 72), David Villa (Fernando Torres, 57).

Chile: Claudio Bravo, Cristian Alvarez, Ismael Fuentes, Waldo Ponce, Carlos Carmona, Rodrigo Tello, Mauricio Isla, Matias Fernandez, Alexis Sanchez, Fabian Orellana, Humberto Suazo (Jorge Valdivia, 87).

Cesc Fabregas will stay despite being tempted by European big clubs

Spanihs talented footballer Cesc Fabregas has reiterated that he is keen to stay at Arsenal at the moment but admitted that he would be keen to return to play for Barcelona during his career.

The Catalan player has been strongly linked with a move away from the Emirates in the opening weeks of the new campaign in both the English and Spanish media.

While FC Barcelona are not keen to make a move without knowing that he would certainly say yes, Cesc sought to ward off any approach by the club by stating that he is still keen to play for the Gunners.

"Right now I am happy at Arsenal, but I cannot deny that returning to my country to play for Barça would be the realisation of a dream," Sport quote him as saying.

"Last summer I chose to stay in London and at the moment I am sure that it was the right decision and I hope to win trophies here."

Coming from a Barcelona-supporting family in Arenys del Mar, north of the Catalan capital, Cesc still watches the Blaugrana whenever he can and is pleased with what he is seeing this season.

"The fact is that Barça are producing some fantastic football that is always great to watch," he explained.

Sport believe that if Arsenal fall short again this season then a move by Barça could prove to be too tempting for Fabregas, who has stated in the past that the north London club need to strengthen.

Francesc Fabregas elated with Euro Title

The spaniard footballer was delighted after la Furia Roja ended their 44-year wait for a major trophy and admitted that this achievement had not yet registered fully.

A single goal from Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was enough to win the final against Germany. However it could have been many more as the Spanish created numerous chances with another outstanding display.

"It feels really great. It is the best day of my life as a player," Fàbregas admitted. "I don't think it has sunk in what we have achieved. We have ended the wait after 44 long years. It is the best feeling. This is one of the best trophies and one my dreams."

Cesc Fabregas praised the team for wanting to play the attractive football that won them so many admirers and universal praise throughout the tournament.

"It is satisfying. It is a long time since a team of that quality, trying to put the ball on the ground, create chances and play a beautiful game has succeeded."

Finally, the popular Fabregas said that he believes that this could be the start of a strong era for the Spain team and was already looking forward to 2010

"Indeed, you can see how young we are and hopefully in twoyears time we can do well in the World Cup," he concluded.

"Spain won the Euro with English help"

According to some newspapers, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Wednesday congratulated Spain for its 1-0 Euro 2008 win against Germany, but was quick to point out that they only won with "English" help.

"We totally congratulate Spain on the result," he told a news conference in London, after talks with his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos and Gibraltar's Chief Minister Peter Caruana.

"We, of course, point out that the critical goal came from Arsenal passing to Liverpool, so we feel a certain degree of co-ownership" he claims.

Miliband, a keen fan of English Premier League side Arsenal and in the past a sometime midfielder for the governing Labour Party's team, was mistaken though about the through pass to goalscorer Fernando Torres, of Liverpool.

Indeed, instead of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas, the final ball was played by Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez, who was named the best player of the tournament.

As for England, packed with stars from the English Premier League, they failed to qualify for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

Cesc confident at Spain beating powerfull Italy

Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas is certain Spain are set to end a 44-year wait for international glory at Euro 2008.

Indeed, Spain came through the group stages with three straight successes to set up a quarter-final encounter against world champions Italy.

And Francesc Fabregas has a strong feeling that 2008 is set to be Spain's year after so many disappointments in the past.

"We're going to do it. We're going to win," Fabregas claims. "We have to do it however we can. If we have to play ugly, we'll do so."

Italy largely stuttered to qualification in Group C, and Fabregas is backing his team-mates to outplay Roberto Donadoni's men on Sunday vital game.