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Cesc Fabregas Commends Arsenal's Patience with Mikel Arteta as Como Seeks to Emulate Gunners' Culture

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has applauded the club's leadership for their patience during the challenging early years of Mikel Arteta's management. Returning to the Emirates Stadium with his team, Como, for a pre-season friendly, Fabregas revealed that the Italian club is striving to mirror Arsenal’s approach to culture and stability.

Fabregas Highlights Arsenal’s Commitment Through Tough Times

During the friendly match on Wednesday, which ended in a 1-1 draw before Arsenal won on penalties, Fabregas openly praised the Gunners' board for supporting Arteta throughout difficult phases. This support ultimately contributed to Arsenal securing the Premier League title last season. He emphasized how Arsenal’s dedication to a long-term project stands out in modern football and expressed his intention to build something similar at Como.

Admiration for Arsenal’s Board

Having made 303 appearances for Arsenal, Fabregas noted the club's unwavering belief in their strategy despite early setbacks under Arteta’s leadership.

"Congratulations to the club in general starting from seven, eight years ago when they first started with this project. Because what you see in football every day, what Arsenal did, especially in the difficult moments, it doesn’t exist. I told Edu, I told Andrea [Berta] when I came last year to a Champions League game, I said congratulations to the whole club for the patience, for sticking together, for sticking to the plan when for three years in a row, correct me if I’m wrong, finished eighth, eighth, eighth, fourth year nearly Champions League, it was a big disappointment, Tottenham came, you finish fifth, but you keep going because you have a plan, because you have an objective, because you have progression, you keep going forward."

Como Looks to Replicate Arsenal's Stability and Culture

Fabregas remarked on how frequent managerial changes disrupt consistency in football, stating his preference for projects that prioritize steady growth. He feels fortunate to be part of a project at Como that aims to instill the values Arsenal promotes.

"We lack this in football today. You lose three games, change the coach, he was playing one style, now you play another, at the end of the day I don’t believe in this a lot. I’m very lucky I’m in a project, of course with much lower level, the history, everything, but we’re trying to look at the stability Arsenal had, the values, the culture that they are bringing. I think Mikel has done a tremendous job. So I can only wish them the best, really. Because most of the group, these guys now you talk to them, I don’t know… they’re good guys, they want to play good football, they are respectful, you can see how they stick to the plan all the time. Really, I’m super happy to come back here and smell this feeling."

Upcoming Fixtures for Arsenal and Como

  • Arsenal will face Manchester City in the Community Shield in Cardiff on Sunday, 16 August, before starting their Premier League title defense against newly promoted Coventry City six days later.
  • On the same day, Como will play two friendlies against Liverpool, the first behind closed doors and the second open to supporters.
  • Following these matches, Como will prepare for their Serie A opener against Udinese the following Saturday.