Cesc Fabregas names surprise player who was like a ‘big brother’ to him at Arsenal

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Cesc Fabregas has now opened up about his connection with one former teammate who helped Arsenal feel like home for him. 

Cesc Fabregas arrived at Arsenal whilst still very young. 

The Gunners prised the midfielder away from Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy whilst he was still just 16-years-old.

At 16, the Spaniard made his first team debut for the North London club. However, his record as the youngest-ever Arsenal player has since been eclipsed by Ethan Nwaneri, who was given his bow by Mikel Arteta in 2022 whilst he was still just 15-years-old. 

Fabregas was protected at Arsenal as a youngster at Arsenal, partly by Arsene Wenger and the then-manager’s use of him on the pitch, and also by the teammate who the club housed him with. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal 24/25 confirmed signings, transfers in and out, loan exits and releases

Cesc Fabregas reveals Philippe Senderos connection

When he first arrived in North London, Fabregas was provided accommodation with a slightly more senior teammate.

Arsenal chose to house Fabregas with Swiss centre-back Philippe Senderos.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Fabregas lifted the lid on the situation: “I stayed in a house… with Philippe Senderos. They put me together because he speaks Spanish and English, so he was like my big brother, Philippe. 

“Two years older than me, he was in the first team, Switzerland international at the time. He was like a big, big prospect for the future at Arsenal as a centre-back. He helped me a lot to settle in the club.”

This relationship was clearly important to Fabregas, and he and Senderos remained teammates at Arsenal until the defender officially left the club on a permanent basis in 2010.

Arsenal integrating new signings

Helping players find living arrangements is all part and parcel of bringing a new signing into a club. This is part of the duty of care that Arsenal owe to their players, and is particularly important in the case of incoming youngsters.

There are a number of elements that go into helping a new signing arrive and integrate. How Arsenal welcomed Neto on Transfer Deadline Day recently offered an insight into this process. 

It is vital to get this initial bedding-in process right, as otherwise players may struggle to feel relaxed and assured on the pitch, if they still feel as if they are unfamiliar and unsettled within the club itself.