Steve Sedgley looks at the precocious talents of Cesc Fabregas and his importance at N5.

If there is one thing that has surprised me this season, then it is the media's treatment of Arsenal football club. Three years without a trophy is not really a fitting return for a club, of their stature, but people have to appreciate that Arsene Wenger is building something special and these things do take time.

There is an increased amount of speculation around the football club, from boardroom unrest down to the uncertain futures of some players, as agents try to get their client to ply their trade elsewhere. Matheiu Flamini is the latest player out to see if the grass is greener elsewhere, but I find it hard to see how a move - to which is as weak a Milan side I have seen in sometime - constitutes a step up from this current Arsenal team.

While Flamini's departure will be a blow to Wenger, who equally will not be too impressed with the rumours that have been circulating about Hleb and Adebayor, as long as his talisman is not tempted by the finer climes then Arsenal will always have a chance. The young Spaniard is the key and the catalyst of any future success and one whose services must be retained at the club at all costs.

Cesc Fabregas is the epitome of everything Arsenal stand for. He has immense style, character and ever since he broke into the first team at an early age has been the fulcrum of Arsenal's free flowing, majestic, style of play which has graced the Premier League in the last few seasons. His range of passing is exquisite and his vision is right up there with the best in Europe and he simply dictates how Wenger's men are going to perform, every given Saturday. He has added goals to his game this season, an area in which he had his critics but one that has been resolved making him pretty much the complete midfielder. People claim that Flamini played a huge part in freeing up Fabregas this year, which to be fair rings true, but unlike Cesc the Frenchman is more than replaceable.

What I find amazing about Fabregas is the maturity he possesses in one so young. There are not many 21 yr olds who have the ability to control and dictate a game of football and against top class opposition. It helps that the Spaniard doesn't allow himself to be bullied out on the pitch and has that nasty streak that all good players possess. He also has a huge will to win and is never beaten until the last kick. It is what separates the good players from the greats and Cesc is slowly turning into the latter.

There has been a great deal written of late about unrest behind the scenes and what sort of budget Arsene Wenger has at his disposal and you kind of feel that next year could be a critical one. The Frenchman has built an excellent side which has really moved on a gear but ultimately the club need to be winning honours as that is what football is all about and Cesc Fabregas needs that assurance to know what direction the club is taking, so he is content to carry on playing his football in North London. There is not a club in World Football who wouldn't want his services so the ball is very much in the court of the money men, to give Wenger the resources to build on what is a very strong foundation at present. The Premier League will be a poorer place without Cesc Fabregas so it's vital the club match his ambition.