Cesc Fabregas eager to make life difficult for former club Arsenal
Gunners' ex-playmaker says his loyalties lie firmly with Chelsea when he faces his old haunt for the first time since leaving
Cesc Fabregas will look to make Arsenal pay for their failure to re-sign him when he faces his old club in their match against Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger - who this week celebrated his 18th anniversary in charge of the Gunners - felt he could do without his one-time star when he became available from Barcelona.
Chelsea, by contrast, were happy to spend £27 million (HK$339 million) to bring Fabregas back to London.
I know that when I play against Arsenal I will know who is my team, who are my colleagues and who I defend
So far Chelsea's investment has been rewarded with seven Fabregas assists, the latest in this week's 1-0 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon, while Mourinho's men have won five and drawn one of their six Premier League matches to open up a six-point lead on the Gunners heading into this weekend's matches.
"Fabregas has made a huge impact. I know you kind of expect that from him but most of our chances come from him opening up defences," Chelsea captain John Terry said. "Not a lot of people can see the passes he does let alone make it."
Fabregas brushed aside all talk of a conflict of loyalties. "I remind you that I played the Champions League final against Barcelona [with Arsenal] and I swear I would have done anything to win that game - and I have been a Barcelona fan since I was a kid," Fabregas said.
"So I know that when I play against Arsenal I will know who is my team, who are my colleagues and who I defend."
Arsenal have won just six points taken from 20 matches away to teams finishing in the eventual top five during the last five Premier League campaigns.