There are a section of fans who think that Arsenal should let Cesc go back to Barça. For those fans the their main reasoning is that, in as much as Fabregas has expressed his desire to leave —although I haven’t seen anywhere Fàbregas saying this— then it leaves Arsenal with no choice but to allow him to go. After all there’s no use in keeping an unhappy player.

Beard protest —Cesc plans to keep the beard until he signs for Barca

We all understand that it’s summer and you pretty much have to expect a protracted transfer, and being Arsenal fans we recognize that it will involve the captain of our team. This summer though there are two things that really makes my blood boil.

The first is the utter arrogance of the Barça which I’ll address in my next post. Today I want to take on the myth that once a player wants to leave then the club has no choice in the matter. Every time I hear that phrase I think why? I cannot for the life of me understand why this is held as gospel. It’s just another case of if you repeat it enough then it becomes the truth.

It’s easy to understand a lower league throwing a strop, going on strike, or just not playing well. At the top level of football that’s something you’ll never see. There have been many cases of players angling for a move, but that has never stopped them from performing to the best of their abilities. Let’s look at recent examples.

Christiano Ronaldo wanted to go to Madrid since the summer of 2007, he didn’t get his wish until 2009. What did he do in those 2 years? Every game his face showed how much he’d rather be in sunny Spain, yet he won 2 trophies and world player of the year. Not a bad return for an unhappy git.

Gareth Barry had his best season for Aston Villa after publicly saying we wants to leave Villa for Liverpool —something that Cesc has not done, even if the media would have you believe otherwise.

Didier Drogba last summer told France Football Magazine “I want to leave Chelsea.” He then went on to lead Chelsea to their first double ever, scoring 37 goals his highest season tally. Ask Chelsea if it was worth keeping an unhappy player.

Franck Ribery again last summer said “I have made up my mind, I want to leave,It will be Real or nothing.” to which Bayern replied, “We don’t need their money, and we will keep Franck come hell or high water.” sound familiar? Although his season was plagued by injuries, his unhappiness did not prevent him from helping the German club reach the champions league finals.

As I see it, far from being detrimental to the team, keeping an unhappy player may just prove to be the key to a great season. These players are professional sportsmen at the top of their games, once they step out on the pitch all they want to do is be better than the opposition. It’s no longer about the club, but about putting in the best performance you can.

None of the top sportsmen in the world wouldn’t be where they are if not for their will to be the best. A major part of their psyche is the ability to block out the world and concentrate on the field of play.

I am sure that the same would apply to Cesc, after all this whose will to win is so great that he played on against Barça after breaking his fibula. Does anyone think Cesc will sabotage Arsenal if he doesn’t go to Catalonia?