Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - AS Monaco v Olympique Lyonnais - Stade Louis II, Monaco - August 9, 2019 AS Monaco's Cesc Fabregas looks dejected as he walks off after being shown a red card REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
Cesc Fabregas says the lack of quality at Arsenal during his final years is the main reason for his decision to quit the club as he felt that just Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri were at his level.
During the late 2000’s, the former Gunner became the key man for Arsene Wenger’s side.
After lining himself up for legendary status in north London, Fabregas returned to boyhood club Barcelona in the summer of 2011, and would come back to the Premier League three years later with Chelsea.
Cesc Fabregas looks dejected after Arsenal suffer defeat at Bolton Wanderers, 2011
However, in a detailed interview with Arsecast podcast, the Spaniard explained his deep frustrations with the squads ability that ultimately led to his departure.
“I was the captain, I always felt so much pressure on myself,” said Fabregas.
“I had to lead this team to win something. I gave everything.
“And then you lose a game, you’re in the bus like this destroyed and then you hear some players laughing, thinking about where they will be going out later. This was going on for a few years.
Fabregas: Only Nasri and van Persie were on my level
“Yeah, we were playing beautiful football and I enjoyed that side of things but I was putting pressure on myself to lead, to do everything and at one point I felt kind of lonely.
“Especially in the last two or three years, I felt Robin and Samir were the only players – it’s not an arrogant thing to say, it’s how I felt at that time – I felt they were the players who were at my level mentally and technically. ”
Within a year of Fabregas’ departure, both Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie had also left Arsenal. Nasri won the Premier League with Manchester City (2012) and Van Persie with Manchester United (2013).
Fabregas playing for Barcelona in 2013
“Robin, I couldn’t count on him unfortunately for many points of the (2010/11) season because he was injured,” continued Fabregas.
“He was a world class player, a leader but he couldn’t help me on the pitch for many seasons unfortunately, many parts of the year.
“When I first left and I saw the season he made after when he was not injured at all and at the peak of his level, I was like ‘are you serious, man?’.”
