Fabregas pledges future to Highbury

14 April 2012

Spanish starlet Cesc Fabregas has pledged his future to Arsenal by signing a new long-term contract at Highbury.

The 17-year-old midfielder has established himself as one of the Gunners' hottest prospects after becoming the youngest player to appear for the club and their youngest goalscorer.

He said today: "My first year here has been like a dream, I never thought I would have the opportunity to play in the first team so early on. I'm very excited about my future here."

Fabregas joined from Barcelona in September last year and made history by appearing in the Carling Cup against Rotherham United at 16 years and 177 days.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger today condemned UEFA's decision to abandon the Champions League game between Roma and Dynamo Kiev in Rome this week after referee Anders Frisk was hit by an object thrown from the crowd.

The Arsenal manager said it set "a dangerous precedent" and could have provoked "a riot outside the stadium".

He also drew a comparison with the Heysel disaster of 1985 - Juventus fans died after Liverpool supporters rioted at the European Cup final in Brussels but the match went ahead. "For me, it is difficult to understand because you a play a European Cup final with 37 dead people but you cancel a game for a cut on the referee's head," he said.

Arsenal have no injury problems ahead of tomorrow's clash with Bolton at Highbury. Wenger is likely to freshen his team by bringing back Freddie Ljungberg and giving Brazilian Edu his first start of the season at the expense of Dennis Bergkamp and Gilberto Silva.

Fabregas pledges future to Highbury

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