21 October 2023 , 06:15
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Cesc Fabregas' name still evokes an array of different feeling among Arsenal fans more than 10 years after he called time on his Gunners career for the bright lights of Barcelona.
It wasn't so much his decision to go to the Camp Nou, when the dust settled - most Arsenal fans could accept his reasoning. It was his boyhood club, a chance to play under Pep Guardiola and challenge for the biggest honours of them all. It was where he went next that burned bridges.
Fabregas returned to London three years after he left, but he didn't come back to the Emirates. Instead, the now retired Spain international joined Arsenal's fierce London rivals Chelsea. It is believed that the Gunners actually had first refusal on Fabregas' when he left the Blaugrana, so perhaps the frustration of the Arsenal faithful should have been aimed at Arsene Wenger rather than the playmaker himself.
However, the damage was done. For Fabregas, his time at Stamford Bridge gave him things that his time at Arsenal couldn't give him. Two Premier League titles, as well as a League Cup - the sight of him lifting each of them a painful one for those in the red half of north London.
With that being said, those of an Arsenal persuasion may take some comfort from the fact that it was a player who now lines up for them that was behind Fabregas' Chelsea demise. Jorginho, now a Gunner, spent five years in west London before joining Mikel Arteta's side in the January window of 2023.
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His arrival at the Blues back in 2018 spelled curtains for Fabregas' own Chelsea career, at least, that's what the man himself thinks. "One of the biggest reasons I left Chelsea is because of him (Jorginho)," the 36-year-old told BBC One in the summer of 2021.
"He’s a very smart player, intelligent, a very good passer of the ball. The only thing I can say about him sometimes is he releases the ball too quickly when he can play forward.
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Cesc Fabregas feels Jorginho's arrival at Chelsea meant the end of his own Stamford Bridge stay"He makes the team tick. At Chelsea, he has N'Golo Kante protecting him all the time, and I know that’s a big thing, I don’t know here how he will cope with a big, big game at the Euros. He’s a really good player and tactically, he knows what to do because of the coach’s methodology, it helps him a lot."
Jorginho's arrival at Arsenal was greeted with a mixed response from the Emirates faithful, but he has been a positive influence both on and off the pitch since joining at the turn of the year. His ability to dictate proceedings from the middle of the park has been a huge asset to Gunners when aiming to take control of a game.
The undeniable low point of his Arsenal career so far came in this season's north London derby. It was Jorginho's error that gifted Tottenham their equaliser in the 2-2 draw last month.
However, he bounced back with an impressive performance against title rivals Manchester City soon after and now his attention will turn to the tie at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Saturday evening. The clash marks the first time Jorginho has returned to his old stomping ground since leaving.
Despite winning both a Champions League and Europa League with the Blues, Jorginho isn't universally popular among the Chelsea faithful. His reception upon his return will be interesting, but from Jorginho's perspective - he'll be hoping to showcase all the qualities Fabregas highlighted.