Fabregas Can Be The Best - Gallas
Fabregas Can Be The Best - Gallas
Cesc Fabregas has the potential to become the best player in British football, according to his Arsenal team-mate William Gallas.
zoom - galleria After inspiring Arsenal to a come-back draw at Anfield on Sunday, a resulkt that took Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League, 20-year-old Cesc Fabregas convinced his experienced captain William Gallas that he can be this season's outstanding player in England.
However, Gallas warns that Fabregas, who against Liverpool scored his tenth goal in all competitions this season, must learn to pace himself better.
Gallas said: “The season is very long and Cesc has to know when he’s tired not to play the physical game as much.
“When you are young you like to touch the ball too many times.
“But he has to learn how to save his energy — then he can be the best player in the League.
“Aleksandr Hleb and Fabregas are good friends off the pitch which helps a lot. When you’re friends you understand each other well and like to play together.”
Arsenal remain unbeaten this season on three fronts following their 1-1 draw at Anfield, but of equal significance on Sunday was the manner of their performance. It confirmed to their rivals that Arsene Wenger’s latest young team are serious contenders. They emerged from their sternest test to date with flying colours, out-playing Liverpool for most of the match and feeling understandably annoyed with themselves for not winning after twice hitting the woodwork and squandering the rebounds when the gaping net beckoned.
Gallas, who excelled in defence for the Gunners against Liverpool while lending his support to the attack with frequent forward forays in the second-half, feels his team's performance sent out the right signal to the country ahead of Saturday's lunchtime showdown with champions Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
The France and former Chelsea defender, 30, told The Sun: “A lot of people wanted to see how Arsenal would react against a big team like Liverpool and we reacted very well.
“Maybe we can be disappointed we didn’t win, but that’s football. Sometimes you have to forget the game and think about the next game on Saturday.
“It will be a big test again.
“Everybody will have watched this game, everybody will have been in front of their televisions and a lot of teams will be afraid of Arsenal.
“Maybe Liverpool were a little bit afraid of us but I think a lot of teams will be afraid again.
“We are playing very well, can score goals at any time yet we can also play a physical game as well.
“In the first half, Liverpool were very strong and didn’t make it easy for us but in the second we played our football and had a lot of chances.
“It’s frustrating when you’re on top and not scoring but we showed everybody we can fight for the title.
“We’ve not lost a game and are scoring a lot of goals. Before we came here we won 7-0 in Europe, which gives us confidence.
“We will not change our style and will play football all the way.
“Cesc scored a good goal at Liverpool and could have scored another. But anyone in the team can score. Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc, Alex Hleb and Emmanuel Eboue ... that’s good for the future.”
Even Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, 29, admitted: “It was a great game but it would have been harsh on Arsenal if they hadn’t come away with anything from it.
“It was like playing against 12 men at times out there.”
But after keeping the Gunners at bay until the 80th minute, Carragher conceded: “When you take the lead you are disappointed when you don’t win.
“But credit to Arsenal, they obviously deserved something from the game. They are a great side.
“We were very close but it’s those small details that make the difference.
“We’re still only six points behind so we’re by no means out of it.
“It would have been a lot better had the gap only been three points.
“But we played well and have to be proud about the way we battled and how committed we were.
“Having said that, we also have to recognise how well Arsenal played — to come to Anfield and play the way they did.”
