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

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has spoken highly of the club’s leadership for their steadfast support of Mikel Arteta during challenging times. Back at the Emirates Stadium leading his current team, Como, in a pre-season friendly, Fabregas shared that the Italian club is keen on mirroring the culture and stability Arsenal has fostered.

Respecting Arsenal’s Long-Term Vision

During the friendly, which ended 1-1 before Arsenal clinched victory on penalties, Fabregas praised the Gunners’ board for backing Arteta through tough spells. This patience was rewarded with last season’s Premier League title. The Spaniard emphasized how rare it is in today’s football landscape to see such unwavering dedication to a long-term project, a principle he now wishes to apply at Como.

Fabregas Highlights Board’s Commitment

Having played 303 matches for Arsenal, Fabregas noted how the club’s hierarchy stayed true to their plan despite initial setbacks under Arteta’s management. After the match, he said:

"Congratulations to the club in general starting from seven, eight years ago when they first started with this project. What you see in football every day, what Arsenal did, especially in difficult moments, doesn’t exist elsewhere. I told Edu, I told Andrea [Berta] when I came last year to a Champions League game, 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."

Trying to Recreate Arsenal’s Stability at Como

Fabregas criticized the modern trend of quick managerial changes following a few poor results, which often breaks a club’s momentum. He feels fortunate to be part of a project at Como that aims to build on the values and culture Arsenal developed.

"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 Matches for Arsenal and Como

• Arsenal will face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, 16 August, at Cardiff.
• Their Premier League title defense starts against newly promoted Coventry City six days later.
• On the same day as the Community Shield, Como will play two friendlies against Liverpool: the first behind closed doors, the second open to fans.
• Following that, Como will focus on their Serie A opener against Udinese the next Saturday.