Heat is on Fab to lift the Gunners

He dwarves Emmanuel Adebayor and William Gallas in terms of presence on the world stage and is fast becoming, if he hasn't already, the icon of the new Arsenal generation - the player the youngsters look up to and the physical embodiment of a powerful future.

So, as he looks set to return to the team for tonight's Champions League third qualifying round, second-leg clash against FC Twente after overcoming a hamstring injury, how much responsibility rests on the young shoulders of Fabregas, Arsene? "No more than anybody else - we lost only three games last season with the same players so why should we not be capable of repeating that," came the unconvincing reply.

For the more immediate concern of the naivety in Arsenal's midfield has been well documented. The loss of Mathieu Flamini is a significant blow and makes the decision to allow Lassana Diarra to leave for Portsmouth in January all the more stark.

Kolo Toure (a centre-back), Aaron Ramsey (rookie teenager), Denilson (ditto) and Emmanuel Eboue (a rightback/midfielder) have all played in central midfield as the Gunners have made a faltering start to the season.

Whichever option Wenger selects, Fabregas cannot surely operate with the same physical freedom and expression he could with a Flamini or Gilberto Silva behind him. And for all his attributes, Fabregas is not a ball-winner in the strictest sense. He has too much class to be labelled as such and the Gunners need him higher up the pitch to influence play than marshalling the back four.

Arsenal were outbattled in losing at Fulham and Wenger knows teams still roughing up his young side is the best route to success.

He said: "The first leg was a real Cup game, they made it very physical. They showed a lot of endurance but to sustain that for 90 minutes is very difficult. That's why I felt we could use that to our advantage in the second half.

"They will come and make it very difficult for us again."

There is no doubt the Gunners are more resolute nowadays, but it was no coincidence that as Arsenal's title challenge waned last season, Fabregas began to show palpable signs of fatigue.

"Its not one player who makes the difference, it is us as a team who must show personality, belief and strength," said Wenger when playing down the need to bring in players.

That may be true, but the impact Fabregas has on this current generation is enormous. Tonight is another step towards a Champions League assault and a convincing display is required to send a message to the European elite.

Otherwise it may not be long before Wenger's argument of his former players always spending their best years at the club is blown out of the water and The Cesc Fabregas Show features on Telecinco Sport and Real Madrid TV.