O Captain, My Captain!: A Lament for Cesc

The transfer window is over and Cesc Fabregas has finally gone. As the dust settles and the pain dulls and subsides, I feel it fitting to both celebrate and lament the end of his Arsenal career. Hopefully now we can move on as we close the book on another chapter in Arsenal’s history. This is my final farewell to our former captain.

Watching any of our great players leave Arsenal has never been easy to accept. The famous back five, Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry, the list is long and illustrious. None however will leave me filled with as much regret as Cesc’s departure. Cesc was different to those players; I felt more of an affinity towards him. Virtually the same age as me, playing centre midfield for Arsenal. He was living my dream. I simply revelled in his talent and marvelled at his maturity. His passion for the cause was unquestionable. You could see it in his eyes, coursing through his veins, as he scored, clenched his fists, starred into the crowd and screamed PUTAAAAAA! PUTAAAAAAA!

Arsenal have often been accused throughout their history of a lack of ambition. Producing great players, such as Brady and Stapleton, but failing to invest in a team to match their talents before letting them leave at their peak. It seems not a great deal has changed in 30 years. Cesc will never be a true legend, like Adams, Vieira or Henry because unfortunately for him we never really won anything whilst he was in the team. Yet he shall always be remembered for his ability and what he represented to us. Cesc was the great shining light that we built our team around.

This little Spainard, who had ushered out Patrick Vieira, was supposed to usher in a new period of dominance with us at the pinnacle of the game. The one to lead the revolution as Wenger’s captain. The symbol of our style of play. The rhythm in our beat. Our hope. Cesc was the epitome of Wenger’s experimentation and reliance on youth. The epitome of our defiance against the evil money-spewing behemoths of Man U, then Chelsea and now Man City. What does it mean now that he is gone?

The thought of Farbegas leaving us to merely sit on the bench all season was sickening. It seemed like a serious waste, even by the Western world’s extravagant standards. As Fabregas said though, he had to leave as he was stagnating and wanted to push on to greater things, something he couldn’t achieve at Arsenal.

He is part of a team now where he can truly fulfil his potential. He has already been vindicated in his pursuit of trophies as he has added two more to his collection after only 3 competitive games, scoring in one final. Watching him work and weave his magic for Barcelona though has been both painfully heart wrenching yet strangely gratifying. I am happy for Cesc. The look of joy spread thickly across his face as he high fived not just his team mates but the friends he grew up playing with was infectious.

The familiar twinkle in the toes on the pitch and the old twinkle in the eye during interviews are back and it is seriously showing in his performances. He is scoring goals again and at a phenomenal rate. The sort of prolific rate he demonstrated as a kid in the Barcelona youth teams.

I wish Cesc all the best. It’s just aggravating that he has to play for those conceited Catalans. Indisputably the best team that I have ever witnessed play but also a club so despicable, so lacking in class, it even made me question the morality of Unicef. See their latest offering as the Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu taunts us over the bargain fee they paid for Fabregas. They truly are loathsome. As much as we shall miss Cesc we must now look beyond him to the future.

We have great players still in this team and a wonderful production line of talented youngsters to rival even La Masia. Arsenal will survive and flourish in the future, I am sure of it. I have faith in Arsene. I have faith in Jack. I have faith in Robin. He has matured and developed into a great player and we will now see how he copes as a leader.

Forget the last 3 games. This is a different team. As far as I’m concerned the season starts now, beginning with Swansea on Saturday. In the meantime Cesc I shall forever be grateful for the character you showed in leaving your home so young. For playing like a man when you were just a boy. For you led us through troubled waters to the safe banks of the Emirates and for that, O Captain! My Captain! I salute you.