Cesc Fabregas insists he wants to stay with Arsenal. Despite Real Madrid and Barcelona publicly declaring they want to bring him back to Spain in the summer, Cesc declares he wants to lead the Gunners long-term.

"I am so happy here," he told the Daily Mail. "And I want to continue to be part of what is happening here. Definitely. If not I would have left when I had the opportunity, three years ago, two years ago or last year. I believe in this team and I feel we can achieve things. The boss believes in us more than anyone, and I feel I am part of it. He makes me see that as well. And I don't want to fail here."

He likens his situation to Steven Gerrard and the decision Liverpool's captain made when he was offered the opportunity to move to Chelsea.

"I think you have to be grateful to those who have helped you," he says after another arduous training session at London Colney on Friday afternoon. "When Steven Gerrard had the opportunity to go somewhere else he chose to stay with the club of his life, and I don't think he will ever regret that. He made a decision to stay and he has to believe that it was the right one.

"And he's still young, young enough to achieve so much more. For me he is one of the best midfielders in the world. He looks like such a nice guy but he has this side to his game that comes through in important moments, when he makes an impact. Frank Lampard is a great player too, but for me I see something very special in Steven Gerrard."