14 October 2023 , 07:00
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Cesc Fabregas has been a regular visitor to Arsenal’s training ground in the past year and while he marvels at Mikel Arteta’s style of play, the former midfielder believes the club has become unrecognisable to the one he left in 2011.
He made more than half a dozen trips to the Gunners’ Colney base as he completed his UEFA A Licence. That allowed him to pepper Arteta and sporting director Edu with questions but he was also struck by how much has changed.
“It was like I was never there before,” Fabreas said. “Only the entrance was similar. The rest, the whole building, is completely new. It’s much bigger, the resources they have in terms of recovery, it’s outstanding. Top, top class.
“And obviously the people. There were three or four still there from my days, out of 300 people. Imagine how much has changed in the 12 years. But the most important thing is the club is growing and doing well.”
Fabregas is full of admiration for Arsenal’s style of play under Arteta and considers his former side to be one of three teams alongside Manchester City and Brighton who are appointment viewing.
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But the 2010 World Cup winner points to how they struggled to adapt when centre back William Saliba was injured last season as a challenge for the team to overcome if they are to surpass champions City this season.
He added: “Arsenal use that 3-1-3-3 formation - which is six players in front of the ball. It’s about the coach trusting their defenders to be quicker, faster and recover the ball. Then they can play a little bit more attacking football.
“But you could see the difference when Saliba was playing and got injured. Mikel will tell you himself that it’s not the same way they can play.”
Arteta's side have gone into this international break off the back of a tense win over City to leave them joint-top alongside Tottenham with identical results of six wins, two draws and no losses.
They will restart their campaign with a trip across the capital to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Saturday evening.