Hamburg v Arsenal Group G Preview: Delight is not a word that has been uttered much at Arsenal recently amid poor Premiership results, damning claims from Ashley Cole and a foot injury that will force Thierry Henry to miss this evening's game at Hamburg. But Arsene Wenger found reason to say he was "delighted" yesterday as he revealed that Cesc Fabregas has agreed an eight-year contract.
Loyalty is a live topic at Arsenal after Cole's departure for Chelsea. Fabregas, who quit his local club Barcelona to join the Gunners three years ago this week, is poised to sign an unusually long deal that commits him to them until just after his 27th birthday.
The Spaniard signed an extension just over a year ago but this fresh contract demonstrates his growing value to the club. He has this season taken over the number four shirt once worn by Patrick Vieira.
Eight-year deals are extremely rare, though Sam Allardyce has a 10-year contract as Bolton manager. Fabregas's deal must be worth at least £15 million.
"At 19 years of age, when you are already a regular player in the first team, I don't have a problem with it," Wenger said. The manager added, in reference to Madrid's apparent confidence in landing the Spain international this summer: "I am delighted because he was announced in Real Madrid a few months ago."
Fabregas confirmed that "everything with my new contract is agreed" and said the improved terms showed how well the club felt he was progressing and gave him "the confidence to continue" under Wenger.
The Arsenal manager was quick to return the compliment. "It's a wonderful commitment," the Frenchman said, "and it's a reward for what we did with him at 16 years of age. We brought him over, and it shows (what is possible) when you can give them the culture of the club."
Wenger is confident that Henry will be back for Sunday's game at Manchester United even though the striker is out tonight because of an injury sustained playing for France against Italy last week. Henry started against Middlesbrough on Saturday after having an injection but suffered a reaction.
The Arsenal manager is likely to choose between pairing Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie or using an attacking midfielder, Freddie Ljungberg or Tomas Rosicky, to support a lone frontman. Julio Baptista is likely to begin on the bench against a Hamburg team who have drawn all three of their Bundesliga matches and were knocked out of the German Cup by the minnows Stuttgarter Kickers after extra-time last weekend. They are without the injured Juan Pablo Sorin and Rafael van der Vaart.
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