Arteta rejects Fabregas comparisons
Mikel Arteta has insisted he should not be viewed as a replacement for departed Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, telling the London Evening Standard that it is unfair to compare him to his compatriot.
Fabregas left Arsenal for boyhood club Barcelona in summer 2011, while Arteta was a transfer deadline day signing from Premier League rivals Everton, part of a late triple swoop that also saw Germany international Per Mertesacker and South Korea forward Park Chu-Young also arrive at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta told the newspaper: “Cesc wasn’t the same player in his first season as in his last, so how can anyone expect me to be the Cesc Fabregas of last season in my first? It’s not fair.”
The 30-year-old has made 34 appearances for Arsenal and scored a stunning free-kick in the Gunners last outing against Aston Villa, rounding off a 3-0 victory with a powerful long-range effort late in the game.
Prior to moving to North London Arteta spent six-and-a-half years on Merseyside with Everton, captaining the side on a number of occasions and making 208 appearances for David Moyes’ side.
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